A driver ran over at least four people outside a Montrose gay bar early Thursday, March 22, killing one of the victims.
The incident occurred outside Bayou City Bar & Grill, at Grant Street and Hyde Park Boulevard in the heart of Houston’s LGBTQ neighborhood, according to KTRK-TV.
The suspect was later identified as 25-year-old Cordale Robinson, according to Click2Houston.com. Robinson’s best friend told the station he was merely trying to escape and “didn’t do it on purpose.”
The deceased victim was identified by friends as Jared Jontě Jacobs, also 25, who had recently graduated from nursing school.
Authorities say Robinson had been involved in an altercation. He jumped in his car and drove through the parking lot, hitting four or five people and two other vehicles. Robinson was taken to the hospital with injuries he sustained in the fight. He is now charged with aggravated assault and murder.
The victims reportedly were innocent bystanders who happened to be walking out of the club, which had just closed, when the attack occurred. Jacobs reportedly was dragged by the suspect’s vehicle.
“He didn’t know anyone who was fighting,” Jacobs’ friend, Edwin Lopez, told KTRK. “We were just talking, and before we knew it, he was under the car.”
According to his Facebook page, Jacobs was a Houston native.
Sam N. Smith said he had been friends with Jacobs for five years. Smith told OutSmart Jacobs recently graduated from Lamar University and had been working as a registered nurse at Houston Methodist Hospital.
“He was a very nice person and friendly,” Smith said. “He treated everyone with respect.”
Smith said Jacobs identified as bisexual.
Witness Teanna Macintosh told the Houston Chronicle that the incident “came like a hurricane.”
“It just appeared out of nowhere and he just came in and started hitting and running over people and dragging people and tearing up people’s cars,” Macintosh said. “You couldn’t calm him down.”
One witness who identified herself as Mrs. Bae told the Chronicle that everyone took off running as the suspect barreled through the parking lot.
“It was just blood everywhere,” Mrs. Bae said. “It was so sad.”
The Chronicle has video of the aftermath of the attack.
This is a developing story and will be updated as additional information becomes available.
UPDATE: Police say driver will likely face murder charges after plowing into crowd of people outside #Montrose bar. One person died. @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/ekIgRM312w
— KPRC Cathy Hernandez (@KPRC2Cathy) March 22, 2018
What terrible news to waste up to: #Montrose bar the scene of man driving through parking lot, hitting & killing. https://t.co/huTDmFEKC9
— Miya Shay (@ABC13Miya) March 22, 2018
BREAKING: A man has died after police say a driver hit him and 4 others outside a bar in the Montrose area. @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/W31oLEenNX
— KPRC Cathy Hernandez (@KPRC2Cathy) March 22, 2018
BREAKING: police confirm the man run over and pinned by driver of this car has died in the hospital. Investigators say driver mowed down at least 4 people outside Montrose bar after closing. Police don’t know why. #abc13 pic.twitter.com/GVFOwkifiX
— Courtney Fischer (@CourtneyABC13) March 22, 2018
NOW: police say an out of control driver hit 4 people on the street. That driver apparently got into a fight with people outside a #Montrose bar, then got into a car and started ramming people. #abc13 pic.twitter.com/tQYI1wCiIE
— Courtney Fischer (@CourtneyABC13) March 22, 2018
