In the early hours of May 16, 2021, a night of illicit revelry turned deadly in the basement of a building on Main Street in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Among the chaos that erupted, 38-year-old Charles Dimples Barnes, a Black / African American male, was fatally shot. The tragic event unfolded at approximately 1:56 a.m. when police responded to reports of gunfire at an illegal after-hours club.
Upon their arrival, they discovered a grim scene in the basement, where Barnes, of Bloomfield, had sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene. Another man, 40-year-old Norman Charles Peters of Stamford, was also found with multiple gunshot wounds and later succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital.
The establishment, which was operating secretly, was masquerading as a "Temple of the Way–House of Worship". Investigators determined it was an unlicensed nightclub, violating emergency COVID-19 orders in place at the time. The venue was dangerously ill-equipped for a large gathering, lacking sprinklers, working smoke detectors, and a sufficient number of exits. When the shooting began, panic ensued as patrons scrambled for the single exit, trampling over one another and turning over tables in a desperate attempt to flee the gunfire. The sister of Charles Barnes recounted receiving a heart-wrenching call from her mother shortly after 2:00 a.m., delivering the news that her brother had been shot and the situation was dire.
In the aftermath of the double homicide, the investigation led to several arrests related to the illegal operation of the club. Josiah J. Israel and Christopher Mojica were charged with the illegal sale of alcohol, conspiracy, and reckless endangerment. Mitchell Noel, who had allegedly rented the basement to host the party, was also charged with second-degree reckless endangerment. Adding another layer to the incident, a probationary police officer was found to have been at the club and lost her badge at the scene; she was subsequently terminated from her position. However, despite these arrests connected to the illicit venue, no suspects have been apprehended or charged specifically for the murders of Charles Barnes and Norman Peters. The Bridgeport Police Department's Homicide Squad continues to investigate the case, urging anyone with information to come forward.
