Man’s charge upgraded to attempted murder
Published 1:13 am Thursday, February 19, 2009
An Opp man is now charged with attempted murder after a “cutting” at an Opp nightclub in November.
Joseph Russell, 62, was initially charged with first-degree assault as a result of the incident at Opp’s Little Harlem Club on Hardin Street; however, the Covington County grand jury upgraded the charge against Russell last week.
Reports indicate the Opp Police Department’s third shift officers responded to Mizell Memorial Hospital shortly after 1:30 a.m. Nov. 1 in reference to a cutting.
“(The unidentified victim) had been cut in the neck area with a knife,” said Opp chief Nickey Carnley. “When officers arrived, it was determined the cutting happened at the Little Harlan Club. Joseph Russell was identified by the victim as the person who had cut him.”
Russell then taken into custody at his Bailey Street home that night, and the victim was treated and released.
On Tuesday, Russell was booked into the Covington County Jail and held on a $20,000 bond.