Englewood man charged with 3 counts of murder in hit-and-run outside Jeffery Pub in South Shore

CHICAGO - Chicago Police announced first-degree murder charges against a man from the Englewood neighborhood today and say he intentionally mowed down a group of men who were fighting outside Jeffery Pub in the South Shore neighborhood.

Readers may recall the incident from last weekend when, around 5:00 a.m. on Sunday morning, August 14, a group of men were fighting in the street outside of Jeffrey Pub on the 7000 block of S. Jeffery in the South Shore neighborhood on the city's south side. Extremely graphic video then showed a silver sedan race through the scene at high speed, striking a total of four of the men outside - killing three - and the vehicle did not stop.

Police now say that Tavis Dunbar, 34, of the 7000 block of S. Emerald Avenue in the Englewood neighborhood, is the man responsible for the hit-and-run.

Video from a dashcam was posted online. You can view the video below. Viewer Discretion is advised.

Dash cam footage of hit & run in the Jackson Park Highlands neighborhood that occurred at about 5 a.m this morning. #chicago #chicagosscanner pic.twitter.com/dnH5XSyI72

— CHICAGO CRITTER (@ChicagoCritter) August 14, 2022

The men who were killed were later identified as Devonta Vivetter, 27, Donald Huey, 25, and Jaylen Ausley, 23.

Investigators were initially unclear about what was the cause of the incident and were unsure if the incident was a hate crime, as Jeffery Pub is one of Chicago's oldest spots for the queer community on the city's south side. According to Brendan Deenihan, the department's chief of detectives, police do not know a motive for the attack because Dunbar “invoked his right to remain silent.”

According to Cook County Prosecutors, Dunbar was at the bar that night and, as the fight occurred outside, a witness overheard a man matching Dunbar's description say “I’ve got something for you, you motherfuckers...” before he walked northbound, got into a car borrowed from his cousin, and drove through the men at an estimated 60 mph.

After the incident, he ditched the car blocks away and went to a friend's house. That friend then drove him to another female friend's house.

After his female friend saw the video that was circulating online and recognized his car, he allegedly asked her to provide him an alibi, and allegedly admitted to her that he killed three people with his car.

Dunbar turned himself in to Chicago Police yesterday with an attorney. He is officially charged as follows:

• Three (3) felony counts - Murder - First Degree
• One (1) felony count - Attempted Murder - First Degree

He is due in bond court today.

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