Denver police have arrested three suspects — including two brothers and a parolee — in the deaths of five people whose bodies were found inside a Denver bar after a fire was set.
The bodies were found about 1:50 a.m. Wednesday by firefighters responding to a blaze at Fero's Bar & Grill, 357 S. Colorado Blvd., according to the Denver Police Department.
Investigators arrested Dexter Bernard Lewis, 22; Joseph Hill, 27; and Lynell Jonathan Hill, 24, on Wednesday night about 11 p.m., Denver police
"It appears the motive of this crime was a robbery," said Ron Saunier, Denver Police Department's major crimes unit commander. "The arson was set to try to cover up the crime."
The victims have been identified as: Young Suk Fero, 63, the owner of the business; Daria M. Pohl, 22, of Denver; Kellene Fallon, 45, of Denver; Ross Richter, 29; and Tereasa Beesley, 45, of Denver.
Saunier said he does not know which of the victims were employees and which were customers.
Tae Moon Park, Fero's brother, says police have told him his sister was shot before the bar was set on fire.
Saunier said all three suspects will face five counts of first-degree murder, five counts of felony murder, aggravated robbery and arson. He said he does not believe that anyone who had been in the bar when the robbery began managed to escape. All customers and employees were killed.
Lewis was serving a parole term for a 2009 felony menacing case out of Jefferson County, according to Colorado Bureau of Investigation records. He had been arrested June 22, 2009, for numerous charges including assault, robbery, menacing and assaulting a police officer. The robbery count was dismissed and he was sentenced to three years in prison for menacing with a weapon.
Lewis was charged with a misdemeanor sexual assault charge in 2008.
Lynell Hill also had a criminal record. In 2010, he was charged with third-degree assault in Arapahoe County. He was given a deferred sentence to a reduced charge of harassment.
On April 24, 2011, he was charged with third-degree assault, reckless endangerment, careless driving and driving while his license was suspended.
Lewis was taken into custody in the 8300 block of East Colfax Avenue, police said, and Joseph and Lynell Hill, who are brothers, were arrested in the 4800 block of Quebec Street.
Saunier said that the suspects entered Fero's shortly before the bar's 2 a.m. closing time.
They lit the bar on fire before they left the building.
The fire was burning for 15 to 20 minutes before firefighters arrived at the scene, he said.
He said he couldn't comment on whether the robbery was gang- or drug-related. He added that the investigation is in the beginning stages and that he could not discuss evidence.
Saunier did not explain how the evidence pointed to the three suspects. He said authorities do not believe there are other suspects linked to the crime.
Denver Police Chief Robert White began the Thursday morning news conference by saying he was "elated" that his police officers were able to arrest the suspects in the case.
White thanked the numerous people in the city who phoned in tips to investigators. He said the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the U.S. Marshal's Service assisted on the case.
"We think this is an isolated event," White said. "There is still much work to be done."
Kirk Mitchell: 303-954-1206 or twitter.com/kmitchellDP
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