Case forwarded against Hagerstown men in Club Twisted shooting

January 26, 2012

By Matthew Umstead

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — A Frederick, Md., man who was wounded in a Club Twisted shooting in November said he believes he was shot nine times, according to Berkeley County Sheriff’s Deputy Michael St. Clair, who investigated the case.

St. Clair said Thursday he had not reviewed the medical records of Kevin R. Mullen, whom police allege was targeted by Leon William Racks, 29, and Joseph Wayne Mason, 27, both of Hagerstown.

Racks and Mason each are charged with malicious wounding, and the felony cases pending against them were bound over to Berkeley County Circuit Court on Thursday for presentation to a grand jury.

Berkeley County Magistrate Jim Humphrey found probable cause in Racks’ case after hearing testimony on evidence that St. Clair compiled in his investigation of the Nov. 26 shooting at 5268 Williamsport Pike.

Mason, meanwhile, waived his right to a preliminary hearing in magistrate court Thursday.

Both defendants remain incarcerated in Eastern Regional Jail, according to jail records.

Mullen was found in the parking lot of the club and was flown to a hospital, where he was treated for multiple gunshot wounds, which police had said were not life-threatening.

Racks and Mason were later apprehended by police in Washington County shortly after the shooting occurred about 2:50 a.m. and were subsequently returned to Berkeley County.

A vehicle that was seen leaving the club, which is near Potomack Intermediate School, later was stopped and the men were detained by Washington County Sheriff's Office deputies.

A witness told officers that she saw Racks and Mason arguing at Mullen’s vehicle in the club parking lot just before he was shot.

The club has since closed.

— Matthew Umstead

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