DC9 To Reopen

The DC9 club in Washington, D.C., has been granted permission to reopen its doors by the city’s Alcoholic Beverage Control board following the death of man in an incident involving several employees outside the venue.

DC9 was closed by authorities after the Oct. 15 death of Ali Ahmed Mohammed, who was denied entry to the club but later returned to throw bricks through the venue’s window, according to police reports. Mohammed was allegedly chased down and assaulted by a co-owner of the club and four others, authorities said.

The U.S. Attorney’s office in the city dismissed charges against the venue employees, writing in court documents that the medical examiner’s office “was unable to observe physical injuries sufficient to allow a determination on the cause of death.”

The ABC board voted unanimously Dec. 1 to allow the club to reopen by Dec. 15, according to the Washington Post.

However, board spokeswoman Cynthia Simms told the paper several conditions have been put in place for the reopening. First, the club will not be allowed to employ any of the men involved in the incident. The ruling could also be reversed at a Jan. 19 hearing should more information regarding Mohammed’s death become available, she added.

The investigation is ongoing and the U.S. Attorney’s office previously said in a statement that although the charges were dismissed, the government still holds the ability “to file charges arising from this incident against one or more of the defendants in the future.”