CINCINNATI (AP) - A man who allegedly opened fire in a crowded Cincinnati nightclub has pleaded not guilty to two murder charges and three dozen other charges.
A Hamilton County judge on Monday ordered 27-year-old Cornell Beckley to remain held on $1.7 million bond. He was initially arrested by police on a murder charge in the March 26 gun battle, and a grand jury last week added charges including involuntary manslaughter, inducing panic, and felonious assault.
Beckley’s attorney has blamed the charges against him on public outcry and politics.
A pretrial hearing was set for April 21, with a tentative trial date of May 30.
Authorities say a dispute apparently between groups from two Cincinnati neighborhoods escalated into violence while some 200 people were in the Cameo club. Two died, 15 others were injured.
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