Video May Help Police Nab Motorcyclist Who Killed Man In Hit-And-Run
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The victim of a hit-and-run accident was laid to rest Tuesday. Now his family and Minneapolis police hope help from the public will lead to the person responsible.
Louis Charging Bear, 56, was hit by a motorcycle as he crossed Cedar Avenue at 27th Street in Minneapolis on the night of June 5. Investigators released video Tuesday of the man riding that motorcycle 11 days ago.
Charging Bear was just two blocks away from home when he was hit. His last words gave the description of the motorcycle that hit him.
Police hope Charging Bear's words and video from a local business will lead to an arrest.
"Somebody seen something on that intersection and somebody knows who it is," Jeffrey Kingbird Charging Bear, the victim's son-in-law, said.
He says his father-in-law did not deserve to die this way. The 56-year-old lived with him and his wife for the past five years.
He says the elder Charging Bear loved his family and cherished his time with friends.
"We just want justice so we can ask the public to please help find the driver of the motorcycle that killed our dad, that left for dead," Charging Bear said.
Investigators have video of the suspected motorcyclist leaving a bar.
"[Video shows the suspect] traveling towards the location where the accident occurred, and then we have video of him leaving the accident scene," Minneapolis Police Cmdr. Catherine Johnson said.
She says their suspect also left something behind.
"We have pieces of the motorcycle at the scene, we've got evidence at the scene from the motorcycle itself," Johnson said.
Charging Bear's family says they want answers. Police believe their suspect cannot hide forever, especially since it's believed he was injured when he hit the victim.
"Witnesses on scene told us that the guy laid the motorcycle down," Johnson said. "He's going to have injuries as a result of that, the motorcycle is going to be damaged as a result of that. All of those things lead us to believe that somebody out there other than him knows who this guy is."
Investigators say the motorcycle that hit Charging Bear was black with high handlebars, or "Ape Hangers" as bikers call them.
The driver has blond hair and could be in his thirties.
Anyone with information about this case is asked to call 911, CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or the Minneapolis Police tip line at 612-692-TIPS (8477).
Information can also be texted anonymously to CRIMES (274637). Messages should begin with "TIP674."