Third Suspect Arrested in Convicted Restaurateur's Murder

Photo credit: Suspect Donald Clay of Manassas, VA, courtesy of Prince George’s County Police Department

By DEB BELT (Patch Staff)

UPPER MARLBORO, MD — A third suspect has been charged with murder in the death of a former Leesburg restaurant owner who was found dead in Upper Marlboro.

Osama El-Atari, 37, of Leesburg, was found shot to death in his pickup truck in Upper Marlboro on Feb. 13, according to the Prince George’s County Police Department. He spent time in prison for stealing more than $50 million from banks.

Patrol officers were called to the 9000 block of Armstrong Lane in Upper Marlboro, where El-Atari was found inside a pickup truck suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead on the scene.

Investigators say three men robbed El-Atari of several items, then shot him and fled.

In the most recent arrest, Donald Deon Clay, 48, of the 12000 block of Reserve Lane in Manassas, was charged with first- and second-degree murder.

Police say Clay conspired with two other suspects -- Eric Garris, 29, of Waldorf and 26-year-old Taqwa Muhammad, 26, of Lusby -- to rob the victim.

Both Garris and Muhammad were charged with first-degree murder and second-degree murder in February. All three suspects are in the custody of the Department of Corrections on a no-bond status.

El-Atari was reported missing in Loudoun County on Feb. 11.

He is the former owner of the Original Steakhouse and Sports Theaters in Ashburn and Woodbridge.

He was convicted in 2010 for defrauding banks nationwide for $53 million, according to an FBI announcement. In 2014 El-Atari was released from jail after serving 51 months of his 144-month sentence because he provided information to authorities about two other prisoners, according to The Washington Post.

Anyone with information on this case is asked to call the Prince George’s County Police Department’s Homicide Unit at 301-772-4925.

Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call CRIME SOLVERS at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477), text “PGPD plus your message” to CRIMES (274637) on your cell phone or go towww.pgcrimesolvers.com and submit a tip online.