Update on Assault/Death Outside DC9 – MPD Press Release and Post Article

There have been lots of twists and turns in the incident at DC9 that resulted in a death (Friday morning 2:35am). It seems all the facts have not been determined. The medical examiner has not yet issued their report. According to MPD, that an assault occurred seems beyond dispute, that a man died is beyond dispute. Five employees of DC9 remain under arrest. All other details remain to be seen. Friday night at 8:45pm MPD released the following report:

Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch announced today that five people have been arrested in connection with a death that occurred earlier this morning.

On Friday, October 15, 2010, at approximately 2:35 a.m. members of the Third District were dispatched for an assault in the 2000 block of 9th Street NW. Upon their arrival, they discovered a male victim on the ground. Personnel from DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services responded and transported the victim to Howard University Hospital where life saving efforts were unsuccessful. The victim was pronounced dead at approximately 3:15 a.m. The decedent’s remains were transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. The victim has been identified as 27-year-old Ali Ahmed Mohammed of the 11000 block of Norlee Drive in Silver Spring, Md.

Investigation revealed that the decedent had been involved in a confrontation with employees of DC9 that lead to a struggle that rendered the decedent unconscious and unresponsive.

The suspects were placed under arrest and have been transported to the Homicide Branch.

The defendants are identified as 20-year-old Darryl Carter, Jr. of Northeast, DC; 22-year-old Reginald Phillips of Northwest, DC; 28-year-old Evan Preller of Northwest, DC, 46-year-old William Spieler of Northwest, DC; and 25-year-old Arthur Zaloca of Silver Spring, Md. All five defendants were booked on Murder Two charges.

The Washington Post reports:

“Because the D.C. medical examiner’s office has yet to determine the cause of Mohammed’s death, authorities are likely to reduce the charges against the five men to aggravated assault before they make their initial appearances in D.C. Superior Court on Saturday, according to law enforcement sources.

The sources, speaking on the condition of anonymity because the investigation is continuing, said that even if the charges are reduced, they could be changed again, back to murder, depending on the findings of the medical examiner.”