This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.

Police Continue Investigation as Murder Victim's Friends Mourn

Just 12 hours after the murder of Doran’s bartender Christopher Hall, co-workers and bar regulars gathered at Doran’s to remember their friend.

Sandy, the bar manager of the Hard Hat Café, which sits just a block away from Doran’s Bar, said she and the Hard Hat’s owner had just sent food over to the grieving friends of Hall. However, Doran’s was blocked off by police tape as detectives were still conducting their investigation.

Police were called to Doran’s Bar, 80 Old Broadway, just before 1 a.m. on May 24 on a report of a disturbance. Arriving officers found Hall, 47, of 1651 Quinnipiac Avenue, New Haven, mortally injured inside the bar.

North Haven fire paramedics attended to Hall, who he was pronounced dead shortly after their arrival of an apparent single knife wound to his chest.

Witnesses at the bar provided a description of a female and male and their car leaving the bar. Patrol officers located the car at 42 Oakwood Drive, North Haven. Detectives arrived at the home and spoke with the occupants, Mary Ames, 47, and her son, Michael Ames, 24.

Mary Ames was charged with one count of murder and is being held at the North Haven facility on a $1 million bond for an afternoon arraignment today at the Superior Court in Meriden.

Michael, a bartender at the Hard Hat, said, “We have to believe this is an isolated incident.”

Both Sandy and Michael referred to Hall as a “nice guy.”

Being a neighboring establishment offering a similar service, Michael said, “It’s a hard business. You’re in a service world and you can’t refuse service to anyone if they’re of age until they give you reason to.

This is a tragedy in the community,” Michael continued. “It’s somebody going to work in the morning and not coming home at night.”

Michael Ames was charged with one count of first degree hindering prosecution and is also being presented in court this afternoon. He is being held on a $100,000 bond.

A knife, believed to be the murder weapon, was recovered. Detectives are interviewing witnesses and analyzing evidence from both the bar and the Ames’s home.

The Connecticut State Police Central District Major Crime Squad and the Office of the Chief State’s Medical Examiners Office in Farmington are assisting in this investigation.