An expectant father in Arizona was struck and killed by a man who claimed the victim had “taunted him” by revving his motorcycle engine at Walmart and on the road, according to police.
Gustavo Elias, 29, now faces charges of second-degree murder and reckless child abuse after he allegedly ran over 21-year-old Dezjon Hamilton with his Chevrolet Tahoe while two children were inside the SUV, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by Law&Crime. The incident happened in Chandler.
“Both children reported that there was a confrontation between the driver of the Tahoe and the driver of the motorcycle,” the affidavit states, identifying Elias as the driver and one of the children as his stepson. The other juvenile was a friend of the stepson.
“The confrontation began at Arizona and Ray Rd. when the motorcycle excessively revved its engine while directly in front of the Tahoe,” the affidavit alleges. “Gustavo stated that this was not the first time the motorcycle driver had taunted him, mentioning a similar incident at a Walmart parking lot.”
Police said Elias and Hamilton lived in the same apartment complex. Elias, who spoke through a Spanish translator, told investigators they had multiple confrontations in the past, according to the affidavit.
“[Hamilton] will rev his engine loudly and speed through the parking lot,” Elias claimed.
Authorities said Elias admitted to drinking 12 Corona beers and using cocaine before the crash that killed Hamilton.
“After [Elias and the children] entered his white Chevrolet Tahoe, they drove up to the security gate and waited,” the affidavit explains. “While they waited, [Hamilton] drove around them and turned left onto the westbound Ray Rd. Gustavo then also turned left. Both vehicles stopped at the red light at Ray Rd. and Arizona Ave.”
Elias and the children told police that while stopped at the light, Hamilton “reversed his bike and began revving its engine,” according to investigators.
“As both vehicles traveled westbound, the Tahoe overtook the motorcycle,” the affidavit says. “At Hartford St. and Ray Rd., the motorcycle pulled up to the front passenger side and struck the vehicle … possibly breaking the rearview mirror.”
Witnesses reported seeing both vehicles speeding westbound on Ray Road, with the motorcycle ahead of the Tahoe. Elias then accelerated and pulled alongside Hamilton, according to the affidavit.
“Both passengers [the children] said the driver of the Tahoe turned the Tahoe to the right on purpose and struck the motorcycle,” the affidavit states, alleging Elias sped up to catch Hamilton despite knowing children were inside the vehicle.
“Once he caught up, Gustavo changed to the lane left of the motorcycle and intentionally rammed his vehicle into it, knowing the combination of speed and the Tahoe’s weight could cause significant injury to the motorcycle driver,” the affidavit concludes.
After the crash, witnesses told police they saw Elias speaking with a man at the scene who shouted, “You did this. This is your fault.”
“I know this is my fault,” Elias allegedly replied.
Hamilton suffered a “catastrophic cervical injury” and was placed on a ventilator. Doctors later informed his family that he was brain dead, and he was taken off life support over the weekend.
“It’s over,” Hamilton’s sister told a local media outlet, which confirmed his death.
A GoFundMe created for the family states that Hamilton’s girlfriend is pregnant.
“We are now faced with the unimaginable task of saying goodbye far too soon,” the page reads. “As we mourn the loss of a son and a brother, we are also looking toward a future that Dezjon was so excited for. … His girlfriend is currently expecting, and we are committed to making sure his baby is supported and grows up knowing how much their father was loved.”
A breath test conducted after the crash allegedly showed Elias had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.158, nearly twice the legal limit of 0.08. Authorities ordered him held on a $500,000 cash-only bond.
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