‘Horrific’: Suspect arrested in hit-and-run that killed 3 people outside iconic Chicago gay bar – USA TODAY
A suspect was arrested Monday in connection to a hit-and-run crash that killed three people and injured another at one of Chicago’s oldest and most iconic gay bars.
Tavis Dunbar, 34, was arrested Monday and charged with three counts of first-degree murder and one count of first-degree attempted murder, Chicago police superintendent David Brown said at a Tuesday news conference.
Brown said an investigation showed Dunbar “intentionally struck multiple pedestrians” as he plowed his car into a group of people outside of Jeffery Pub on Chicago’s South Side at about 5 a.m. on Aug. 14.
Brown called the incident a “senseless act of violence” and said he hopes the arrest will bring a sense of closure to the loved ones of the victims.
“There’s no circumstances that make losing a loved one less painful,” he said. “But we hope that bringing this offender to justice brings some small sense of relief.”
‘HORRIFIC ACT’:3 dead, 1 injured after Chicago hit-and-run outside gay bar, police say
Brendan Deenihan, the department’s chief of detectives, said at the news conference that Dunbar surrendered to police Monday and “invoked his right to remain silent.” As a result, Deenihan said investigators are still searching for a motive.
Police identified Dunbar using anonymous tips and interviews with people at the bar at the time of the incident, Deenihan said. Surveillance camera footage also allowed investigators to track Dunbar as he parked the car, got out and walked to an apartment building after the incident, Deenihan added.
Investigators found the car with its air bag deployed. The suspect drove at nearly 60 mph before he slammed into four people, Deenihan said.
“This individual was driving at a high rate of speed,” he said. “The gas pedal was completely deployed to the ground, and he never attempted to tap the brakes when this incident occurred.”
Detectives found that Dunbar was in the bar before the incident but said there was no evidence that he got into a fight or argument with anyone before he left, Deenihan said.
Cook County Judge Susana Ortiz ordered Dunbar jailed without bond during a Tuesday hearing.
Three of the victims in the crash were pronounced dead after they were taken to a hospital. Video of the incident, shared by outlets including NBC Chicago, showed a fast-moving car strike a group of people in the street.
“This was a horrific, horrific tragedy here in the city of Chicago,” Cook County State’s Attorney Kimberly M. Foxx said at the news conference.
Contributing: The Associated Press
Contact News Now Reporter Christine Fernando at cfernando@usatoday.com or follow her on Twitter at @christinetfern.