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Bond hearing for suspect in Elleven45 Lounge shooting
A judge on Tuesday denied bond for the suspect in the shooting at Elleven45 Lounge. Mari Creighton, 21, and Nykris Ridley, 20, were killed.
ATLANTA - A bond hearing was held Tuesday morning for the suspect in the Elleven45 nightclub shooting.
Karanji Reese, 21, is accused of killing 2 people and injuring four others on May 12 during an altercation inside Elleven45.
Marion Crayton and Nicholas Ridley lost their lives.
Reese turned himself in on June 5. He was charged with murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
"I plead for justice for the victims," Taylor Holmes said through tears Tuesday morning in a Fulton County courtroom. "What was meant to be a joyous celebration of my birthday turned into a horrifying ordeal. Mari and I were caught in the crossfire, leaving me with physical and emotional scarring that I may never heal from."
Her testimony came during Reese’s bond hearing. Prosecutors say a fight at the club which escalated to gunfire was caught on camera.
Twenty-year-old Nykris Ridley and innocent bystander 21-year-old Mari Creighton died, four others were injured.
"My heart aches every single waking second of the day, imagining what my baby must have gone through as she lay there alone, helpless during the final moments of her life," said Tracey Eason, Creighton’s mom.
With Reese in court, loved ones like Eason, urged the judge to keep him locked up.
"She doesn't have a bond hearing here today to see if she'll be able to come home with us," Eason said. "My wishes are that the defendant does not receive bond."
The prosecution agreed bond should be denied. They said Reese has been accused of committing a crime while on bond in the past. They said he had also fled from the police.
Reese’s attorney says he has ties to Georgia and has family behind him.
"This is not a situation where Mr. Reese would try to abscond or try to evade the jurisdiction, Mr. Reese wants his day in court," said Malcolm Conner, Reese’s attorney.
Ultimately, the judge decided to keep Reese behind bars.
"I am concerned that Mr. Reese may not return for trial if he were released on bond and I am also concerned that Mr. Reese poses a danger of committing a felony pending trial," said Fulton County Superior Court Judge Rachel Krause.
Since the shooting, the lounge agreed to close for 60 days after city officials began calling for its closure. The owners and the city will meet in early August to discuss the club's future. The owners have said they will take additional steps in the meantime to ensure the safety of its patrons.
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A preliminary hearing was held June 28. During the hearing, a detective with the Atlanta Police Department testified about the investigation and surveillance video was shown of the shooting.