Massachusetts

Accused Gunman in Everett Hookah Bar Shooting Held Without Bail

Charles Demos, 29, is facing charges of murder and unlawful possession of a firearm

A New Hampshire man is being held without bail in connection with a fatal weekend shooting outside a hookah lounge in Everett, Massachusetts.

Charles Demos, 29, appeared in Malden District Court Wednesday on charges of murder and unlawful possession of a firearm.

The Rochester resident was arrested Sunday afternoon in connection with the shooting death of 42-year-old Jarrod Harris, of Everett, the Middlesex District Attorney's Office said.

Demos was located at a Seabrook, New Hampshire, home and arrested on a fugitive from justice charge by Massachusetts State Police, with the assistance of the United States Marshal's Service and Seabrook police.

Surveillance videos showed Harris leaving Karma Lounge with a woman around 1 a.m. when a physical altercation occurred involving the couple, Demos and two other men, prosecutors said. The video also allegedly showed the men punching Harris and taking out a knife.

During the chaos, Demos ran to a car three separate times looking through the trunk, and on the fourth time he returned with a gun, according to prosecutors.

"He crosses the street and shoots him again and again and that's when Jarrod Harris drops to the ground," prosecutor Elizabeth Dunigan said Wednesday.

It's still unclear what prompted the altercation as the court documents have been impounded.

The two men who were with Demos have also been arrested.

Demos' attorney Earl Howard said that what happened before the shooting is what is key to the case.

"The challenge in this case is that they have a lot of things on video and it's HD quality so you are not going to have the parts that are smudged or murky or that kinda thing. You won’t have that. But that’s only one part of what happened. I think you need to learn what preceded that," Howard said.

Family of Harris' in court for Demos' arraignment Wednesday were in shock over the shooting.

"It's my nephew. I was very close to him. He was always underneath my wing," said Harris's aunt Karen. "And I really don't want to talk about it right now because he's gone and I won't see him anymore."

Demos' father, Marshall Hall, was in court too, saying the incident was tragic on both sides.

"I mean, there's nothing really you can say," Hall said. "It's a tragic thing on both sides. You know what I'm saying? It's my kid. I feel for the family too."

It's unclear when Demos will be back in court.

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