Dallas man admits to fatal hit-and-run after police find damaged vehicle

22-year-old Dallas man admits to fatal hit-and-run

Dallas police arrested Marko Chavez, 22, on a murder warrant after he confessed to intentionally hitting a man with his car on Sept. 20.

DALLAS - Dallas police arrested Marko Chavez, 22, on a murder warrant after he confessed to intentionally hitting a man with his car on Sept. 20.

Marko Chavez (Source: Dallas County Jail)

Fatal hit-and-run

Timeline:

Chavez's arrest follows an investigation into the death of 26-year-old Calan Gilbert, who was found dead on Donald Street in Dallas. The arrest affidavit stated that at approximately 6 a.m., Gilbert, who was walking in the street, was hit by an orange 2014 Nissan 370 with a Texas license plate. The driver left the scene.

A witness discovered Gilbert's body at 9:13 a.m., and he was pronounced dead shortly after by Dallas Fire Rescue. The police found an orange car bumper near the scene. FLOCK camera data showed an orange Nissan 370 in the area around the time of the incident.

Dig deeper:

The investigation led police to Chavez after his father reported his son had taken his damaged orange Nissan 370 to a repair shop. The vehicle was missing its front bumper and had damage to the windshield and frame.

During a video-recorded interview, Chavez initially claimed the damage was caused by a loose tire on the freeway. However, he later confessed that he became angry after seeing Gilbert. He believed his girlfriend, who he was picking up, was with her ex-boyfriend Gilbert at a party, according to the affidavit. Chavez told police he saw Gilbert running in the street after his girlfriend got into his car, and drove his car into him, striking him. Chavez said Gilbert's body hit his windshield, and he then left the scene with his girlfriend. He told police he did not look back and drove home.

According to the affidavit, investigators found text messages from Gilbert and Chavez's girlfriend from the night before the party.

The girlfriend said she remembered the text messages, but did not remember if she actually went to the party. During the party, text messages were exchanged between her and Chavez. Chavez accused her of being at the party with Gilbert. The girlfriend sent her live location to Chavez. She told police she didn't remember any of those messages.

Police say Chavez's girlfriend's driver's license was in Gilbert's wallet when his body was found.

Chavez's confession, along with text messages between him and his girlfriend, and the damage to his vehicle, led authorities to believe he was involved in Gilbert's murder.

Chavez was arrested on Sept. 21 and booked into the Dallas County Jail. His bail has not been set.

What they're saying:

FOX 4's David Sentendrey met a man named Robert in South Dallas on Monday afternoon, while walking along Donald Street. Behind Robert’s home is where the body of 26-year-old Calan Gilbert was found after police say he was intentionally struck by a car on Saturday morning. 

"That has to be personal. That had to be for someone to do something like that. That’s personal," said Robert.

Robert’s wife heard the commotion.

"She heard the engine of a vehicle revving up like someone’s foot was stuck on the gas, and she said it lasted for a minute or two and after that she didn’t hear anything," said Robert.

What's next:

In a statement to FOX 4, Gilbert’s cousin said "…he was a very strong Christian and he worked his butt off to help his family in any way possible."