On a late Saturday night in Washington, D.C., a dispute that began inside a lounge spilled out into the street, ending in the tragic death of 55-year-old Clay Hargrave. A Black male from White Plains, Maryland, Hargrave was shot and killed on July 26, 2025, in the 2700 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE. When Seventh District officers arrived at the scene around 11:23 p.m., they found Hargrave unconscious, not breathing, and suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
Despite the immediate response and efforts of D.C. Fire and EMS, he was pronounced dead at the scene. Another adult male, who was inside a nearby establishment, was also struck by gunfire but survived with non-life-threatening injuries.
The investigation into the shooting led police to identify a suspect shortly after the incident. Authorities quickly canvassed the area and detained 46-year-old Charles Mitchell Jr. of Woodbridge, Virginia. He was subsequently arrested and charged with second-degree murder while armed. The swift arrest was the result of the Metropolitan Police Department's preliminary investigation, which included witness accounts and a review of surveillance footage.
During a preliminary hearing in D.C. Superior Court, a detective testified about the events that led to the fatal encounter. Surveillance footage reportedly showed an argument that began inside Georgina's Players Lounge. According to the testimony, Mitchell left the lounge, and Hargrave followed him outside. While the shooting itself was not captured on video, witnesses reported a fight between the two men that culminated in gunfire. The video evidence did show Hargrave on the ground after the shooting and the alleged shooter walking away. Based on this evidence, which also included testimony that Mitchell had been armed and had threatened to shoot people inside the lounge, a judge found probable cause to hold him. Mitchell's request for release pending further proceedings was denied.
