HARLEM – The police arrested and charged a man Wednesday night in a fatal shooting at a popular neighborhood bar earlier this year.
Richard Lawrence, 29, was arrested in the killing of 22-year-old Jarel Mitchell, who was shot at Harlem Nights at the corner of 138th Street and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard this past February.
Lawrence was charged with murder in the second degree, attempted murder in the second degree, assault, two counts of criminal use of a firearm and two counts of criminal possession of a firearm, police said.
Mitchell died after he was shot in the back at point-blank range at the bar at about 3 a.m. on a Friday night in February. Claud Fatu, the bar owner, told DNAinfo back in February he heard three gunshots and saw everyone drop to the ground.
There was no fight or argument before the shooting, the Lawrence allegedly walked right up to the victim and opened fire, Fatu said.
Mitchell tried to crawl out of the bar but collapsed near the door, DNAinfo previously reported. A bartender held his head until paramedics arrived and took him to the Harlem Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
An NYPD spokesperson did not give specifics as to how Lawrence was located, only citing “further investigations.” Officials said Lawrence has not yet been arraigned.
