Sean Dunnavant charged in murder of West Ridge liquor store owner Salim Khamo
CHICAGO (CBS) – A man has been charged with the murder of a West Ridge liquor store owner who was shot and killed during an armed robbery attempt earlier this month.
Sean Dunnavant, 53, is charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of 66-year-old Salim Khamo, owner of J & K Food & Liquor at 6320 N. Western Ave., according to Chicago Police Supt. David Brown. He was ordered held without bail at a bond hearing Friday afternoon, according to Cook County court records.
"We know that this is extremely difficult and traumatic for the family of Mr. Khamo, and for the community for that matter, and we are just hoping that this offender being brought to justice, and being charged, brings some measure of peace," Brown said.
Dunnavant was caught on surveillance video as he rode up to the store on a bike and walked into the store shortly before 10 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 17.
The video was clear and detailed, showing the gunman covered in what appears to be a COVID-type mask.
While inside the store, he appeared to make small talk with Khamo — pointing toward the back of the store – and then shooting him.
Police have said the Dunnavant pointed a gun at Khamo, demanding money, then shot him in the chest. Khamo returned fire without hitting the robber, who ran off without stealing anything.
The gunman is then seen running out of the store, dropping his cell phone, and darting into traffic on the street afterward. He also left the bike behind.
Khamo was taken to AMITA Health Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston in critical condition and was later pronounced dead.
"This was a senseless act of violence that should not have escalated to the loss of Mr. Khamo's life. He was at work, at a small business, making a living for himself and his family. People who knew Mr. Khamo describe him as a hard-working man, and most of all a loving family man," Brown said.
"I will not see his face again. Will not see him wishing again," said Sami Khan, who owns Cell N Comp Repairs down the block at 6314 N. Western Ave. "We lost him. For nothing."
Brown said the cell phone recovered at the scene was used to identify Dunnavant as the shooter.
In a proffer, Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Christopher Nugarus said officers conducted a memory dump of the phone – and found various photographs on it that included a selfie of Dunnavant; a photo of his Social Security card; a State of Texas commercial driver's license; and a HIPAA medical release showing his name, date of birth, and social security number.
There was also a photograph of the very bicycle on which Dunnavant had pulled up to Khamo's store, as well as a gun of the same size and shape he used in the homicide, and a dark-colored jacket he was wearing at the time of the murder, Nugarus alleged.
Meanwhile, officers canvassed the store and found Khamo's gun and a shell casing – but the shell casing did not match Khamo's gun, Nugarus said. A witness who has known Dunnavant for about three years identified Dunnavant's bicycle and coat, and also confirmed Dunnavant's cellphone number for that phone, Nugarus said.
Police began surveillance on Dunnavant after identifying him as the gunman, and took him into custody Wednesday afternoon. The surveillance video of the shooting also led to tips from the public identifying Dunnavant as the shooter, according to Chicago Police Chief of Detectives Brendan Deenihan.
Khamo, a father of three and grandfather of seven, was about to retire next month, according to his family.
CBS 2's Marissa Perlman spoke Friday with Khamo's son. He said in the wake of the arrest, he is breathing bit of a sigh of relief.
"I'm not going to be able to move on anytime soon. No one in my family is," said Siefar Khamo. "But this is just a tiny bit better; will make it a little bit better knowing that the guy that my dad wouldn't let steal from him, you know, now is caught too."
CBS 2's Perlman also talked with Salim Khamo's brother, John. Despite having reopened the store, John Khamo said being at the very site where his brother was murdered is an impossible task.
"It's very hard. It's very hard," said John Khamo. "He's in there for me. I see him 24/7."
Family said they are focusing on honoring Salim Khamo's memory, not on the future of the man police say took his life.
"I miss him all the time," said John Khamo. "I miss him all the time."
"I'm sure he's looking down on us, and we want to tell him, if he can hear me now, we're proud of him," said Siefar Khamo.
Khamo's daughter, Sally, said in a statement he'd owned the liquor store since 2005.
"My father was the most compassionate and hard-working man I know. He left Iraq as a refugee to escape persecution and to build a better life for his family. The store was a testament to his honest work and he was so proud of all the risks he took to provide more for his family. He is survived by his wife, three children, and seven grandchildren who he loved more than anything else in this world. Nothing brought him more joy than to watch his family continue to grow in the new life he had started here for them. To whomever is responsible for this senseless act of violence, I hope you are brought to justice for taking the life of such a loved and honored man."
There were seven wonders in Khamo's world, Siefar Khamo said previously.
"He loved his grandchildren more than anything," Siefar Khamo said. "Anytime one of them walked through the store, he was the happiest man in the world."
Dunnavant is a convicted felon with a criminal history dating back to 1990. His record includes felony arrests for robbery and aggravated battery.
"No one with any shred of decency would be doing that," Siefar Khamo said Friday. "The fact that this guy shot him like it meant nothing – doesn't surprise me he had a criminal history."
Dunnavant is, again, being held without bail.
