Trial date set for Middletown man accused in fatal club shooting

A trial date has been set for a man charged with the fatal shooting outside a Middletown bar in May.

Malcolm Franklin, 27, formerly of Louisiana, is charged with murder as well as three counts of felonious assault for gun violence May 30, 2017 at D&J Nite spot.

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Franklin was in Butler County Common Pleas Court on Tuesday with his attorney Frank Schiavone IV, where Judge Charles Pater set a trial date of Aug. 20.

Franklin allegedly shot Julian Marquis Johnson, 23, outside the Elliott Drive bar during the early morning hours. Three others were injured by gunfire, according to Middletown police.

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Middletown police Detective Jon Rawlins testified during a preliminary hearing in Middletown Municipal Court that Franklin confessed to killing Johnson.

Defense attorneys filed motions to suppress statements Franklin made to police without an attorney present and the stop of his client after the shooting because there was no probable cause. After a hearing last month, that motion was denied by Pater.

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