Musician Corey Dill Seriously Injured During Deep Ellum Robbery
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Musician Corey Dill was seriously injured during a robbery while in town to play a gig in Deep Ellum with his band Brother Moses.
The drummer said he saw a man breaking into the band's tour van outside Deep Ellum Art Co on Oct. 19 shortly before their set and chased him, according to a GoFundMe set up to help with medical bills. He was successful in catching up to him, but the alleged thieves had already reached a getaway car waiting for them in an alley. That's when police said Dill tried to hang on to the suspect's truck as it drove off and was injured.
"They witnessed a man exiting our van, which was parked on Murray Street on the side of the venue, and they knew it wasn't one of us, and they knew that he had some stuff with him, and they just instinctually, you know, felt they needed to try and stop them," said band member James Lockhart.
They chased the thief, who had Dill's backpack, down the alley. Dill was able to catch up to the thief just as he entered the getaway car.
"I'd heard a some vehicle pulling away fast, like spinning tires," said witness Joe Payton. "I looked at the end of the alley and there was Corey laying on the ground and his friend just attending to him."
"It seems to be the case from his injuries and from what security footage we can view that the back right tire of the truck goes over Corey," said Lockhart.
While police believe that Dill tried to hold on and fell off, what's indisputable is the degree of his injuries. Six days later, he remains hospitalized in Dallas with a broken pelvis, clavicle and nose, a temporal fracture on his elbow, and internal injuries. His bandmates have rallied to raise nearly $50,000 to pay for his hospital expenses.
"We've all been trying to support each other throughout this, support Corey mainly and his family," said band member John-Lewis Anderson.
They have said they'll work tirelessly until police make an arrest and have cancelled all shows throughout the year. Their biggest focus now, though, is on healing.
"Just seeing everyone reach out and offer support and give money, he has been deeply encouraged by that, and so he's in good spirits," said Anderson.
They said Dill had surgery Monday and may have more ahead. They also said he will likely have to use a wheelchair for at least several months.
Police are looking for what appears to be a dark grey 2015-18 GMC Sierra with sectional tonneau cover over the bed and aftermarket chrome wheels and smaller tires. It's a distinctive truck, according to one business owner, who shared surveillance video of it parking. Other area business owners are collectively gathering more footage in hopes the attackers are caught. They are asking anyone with cameras around Commerce and Hall to reach out to police.