Three teenagers are under arrest for a fatal hit-and-run incident that happened after an alleged altercation at Revolution, a gay-owned and LGBT-friendly bar in Orlando.
18-year-old Justin Stewart is charged with first-degree murder, and 19-year-old Victor Vargas and 16-year-old Shirley Daniels are charged with accessory after the fact. Police said Steward was driving the 1990 black 4-door Nissan Altima that was driven during the crime.
According to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, 24-year-old Monica Salama left Revolution in the early morning hours Tuesday, Sept. 8, after she met, then later argued with, the suspects. They all drove away from the bar, with the suspects following Salama, who pulled over and got out of her car on Goldenrod Road.
Police said Stewart intentionally ran over and killed Salama.
Revolution general manager Dan Frasier said investigators stopped by the bar and checked out its surveillance video, but police say a witness came forward and identified the suspects. That led them to the three teenagers and Nissan, located on Ives Avenue. Police said the suspects did speak to investigators about the incident.
Frasier said on the night of the hit-and-run, no fights and nothing unusual were reported at the bar itself, and they had Orlando Police officers on duty as usual.
This is one of two violent-incidents at LGBT-friendly bars in Orlando this week. Early morning on Wednesday, Sept. 9, police say 28-year-old Todd Buchanan opened fire in the Independent Bar, injuring three. Those victims are expected to recover.