Man killed after suspect ‘intentionally’ drives SUV into large group outside bar

Man dead after hit-and-run outside southwest side bar

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — This story has been updated with further information about the events leading up to the hit-and-run and to include the victim’s name.

A man died early Saturday morning after being hit by an SUV that police say was intentionally rammed into a group of people in the parking lot of a southwest side bar.

Coroners later identified the man as 40-year-old Perry Banks.

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department says the incident happened around 12:30 a.m. Saturday.

Officers were dispatched to the Checkered Flag Tavern at 5725 W. Morris St. after 911 callers reported a person had been hit by a car in the parking lot.

When they arrived, they found Banks with trauma wounds on his body. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

IMPD said in a later update that the fatal accident had been upgraded to a homicide incident.

They learned that a fight broke out between the suspect and another person while inside Checkered Flag. Patrons broke up the fight and the suspect was asked to leave.

Police say after leaving, the suspect got into their full-sized SUV, and “intentionally” drove into a crowd of people outside the bar, ultimately striking and killing Banks. It was unclear if Banks and the suspect knew each other.

Investigators say they are conducting interviews with witnesses and canvassing the area for security camera footage.

IMPD asks anyone with information on the hit-and-run to contact Det. Michal Dinnsen at the IMPD Homicide Office at 317-327-3475 or by email at Michal.Dinnsen@indy.gov.

Checkered Flag Tavern is at the corner of West Washington and West Morris streets near the I-465 loop on Indy’s southwest side.

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