Donzell Butler was ordered held Thursday at his preliminary hearing after Judge William Jackson found probable cause that he committed second-degree murder in the stabbing death of Charles Scott.
Members of MPD found Scott and another man injured in the middle of 53rd and Ames streets Northeast on July 7. Both men had multiple stab wounds. Both victims were taken to the hospital; Scott died later that night.
According to charging documents in the case, a witness told police that Scott had walked to a carry out restaurant on East Capitol Street with four other people, including the witness, the night of the murder. As they were leaving, the witness said, they walked past Butler was was entering the carryout.
The witness told police that Butler left the carryout and followed Scott and his crowd.
When the group reached Ames Street Butler and the crowd exchanged some words, charging documents state.
At the preliminary hearing Thursday, Detective King Watts said one witnesses told detectives that it looked like Butler was surrounded by three people. The witness came to Butler’s aid, Watts said.
“I had to go help my Muslim brother,” Watts said the witness said, adding that the two attended mosque together.
Watts said that after the fight Butler got into a car with his girlfriend and told her that he had cut himself.
Jackson said that based on that statement Butler had a knife, contributing to the probable cause finding.
Butler is scheduled for a status hearing on Sept. 7.
