Iraq War Veteran Accused Of Killing Iraqi Native During Botched Armed Robbery In Chicago

A Chicago man who police say gunned down a 66-year-old man during a botched robbery was arrested, according to Fox 32 Chicago.

According to prosecutors, Sean Dunnavant, 53, a veteran of the Gulf War, attempted to rob Salim Khamo's convenience store. However, Khamo, who had a concealed carry license, stepped back from the counter and attempted to pull a gun out of his waistband.

Fox 32 reported that Dunnvant then shot the man one time in the chest, according to Assistant State's Attorney Chrisopher Nugarus. At the time, Khamo was working along with his cousin at J&K Food and Liquor at 6320 North Western Avenue a little before 10 p.m. on Oct. 17.

According to Fox 32, Dunnavant ran in a panic, leaving behind his bicycle and cellphone, which helped investigators track him down and charged him with murder in connection to the incident.

Fox 32 reported that surveillance cameras got footage of the shooting and Dunnavant arriving at the store and dropping his phone. A "phone dump" helped police find photos of Dunnavant and various documents, such as his Social Security card and a driver's license from Texas.

Nugarus said that ballistic evidence showed that the single shell casing found did not come from Khamo's gun. Khamo, coincidentally, came to the United States as a refugee from Iraq nearly 30 years ago.

Nugarus told Fox 32 that photos of the bike, the jacket he was allegedly wearing and a handgun consistent with the one used in the shooting were on his Dunnavant's cellphone. He added that a witness who has known the suspect for about three years positively identified him.

Other video that police retrieved showed Dunnavant entering a pawn shop on Sept. 19 on a bike similar to the one used in the convenience store incident, according to Fox 32.

Dunnavant has a long rap sheet, according to Fox 32, including three convictions of aggravated robbery in Kane and Dupage counties in 2018 in which he serves multiple years in prison.

According to Fox 32, Dunnavant has two grown children and had most recently worked as a truck driver the past 11 yeras. Khamo, meanwhile, fled Iraq in 1993 and came to the United States.