Yanked hair may be clue in double murder

Despite being beaten and pistol-whipped, one of two men shot to death outside a south side tavern might have managed to rip a clump of hair from the head of one of his assailants – evidence that could lead to homicide charges, according to court records in the case.

A search warrant was used to obtain DNA samples from a suspect in the killings, a 20-year-old man now being held by Milwaukee police, according to a search warrant affidavit.

Salvador Chavarin, 47, and Benjamin Nunez, 20, were shot multiple times early Jan. 23 outside the Club Carona, 1444 S. 7th St.

Chavarin was found in the parking lot of the tavern with gunshot wounds to his chest and neck, and Nunez was found between parked vehicles with several gunshot wounds to his head, according to police.

Chavarin was pronounced dead at the scene of the shootings, and Nunez died the next day.

According to the affidavit, Chavarin was in the tavern shortly before patrons saw him fighting in the parking lot with a man in his late 20s or early 30s armed with a small, dark handgun.

Chavarin ended up on the ground and the man he was fighting with shot him.

A 24-year-old man being sought for his role in the killings and the 20-year-old suspect attempted to rob Chavarin and Nunez by knocking them unconscious, records show.

Their attempts were unsuccessful, so the 24-year-old started pistol-whipping Chavarin before shooting him multiple times.

The 24-year-old then shot the Nunez, who might also have been shot by the 20-year-old suspect, according to the affidavit.

During an autopsy by the Milwaukee County medical examiner's office, hair was found in Chavarin's right hand and police believed it might belong to one of the suspects.

The hair was submitted to the State Crime Laboratory, and the investigation led police to the 20-year-old, who was arrested Feb. 3.

Investigators then collected the DNA samples, according to a police property inventory report.

Police think the 24-year-old suspect was trying to flee to Mexico, according to the affidavit.

Copyright (c) 2010, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel/Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

Tags: double homicide, news, wisconsin, crime, murder