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Spring Hill man charged with murder in shooting
By JAMIE JONES and MATTHEW WAITE Robert Kahrs was an average blue-collar guy who broke up the monotony of construction work with practical jokes -- putting rocks in co-workers' boots or slipping leaves in their pickup trucks. Kahrs' older brother, Brian, is going to miss him. "He was real popular," Brian said. "He had a million friends." Kahrs, 23, of Holiday died before sunrise Monday at a St. Petersburg hospital. He was repeatedly shot after leaving Miller's Pub in northern Pasco County early Sunday. The bar owner had kicked him and other patrons out for fighting over a girl, authorities said. About 10 hours before Kahrs died, Hernando County detectives arrested a Spring Hill man, Edmund Dwyer, in connection with the shooting. They said they believe Dwyer fired at least 10 bullets into Kahrs' car as it headed west on County Line Road. Dwyer, 23, of 7116 Fair Oaks St. has been charged with first-degree murder and three counts of attempted first-degree murder. He was being held without bail Monday at the Hernando County Jail. The pub owner, James Miller, said Kahrs spent his last Saturday night drunk and boisterous, playing pool under the bar's blue fluorescent lights. Kahrs arrived at the bar at about 10 p.m. with two men and a woman, who danced her way through a crowd of 30 or 40 people dressed in evening gowns and tuxedos for a holiday party, Miller said. He said the woman, Candace Morgenstern, was loud and belligerent, and bartenders refused to serve her any alcohol. "They were feeling no pain," Miller said. At some point, as Miller was tending bar, he saw that Kahrs' group was arguing with another group of people who occasionally drink at the pub, including Dwyer. The groups started fighting, and one man hit another over the head with a pool stick, authorities said. Miller ordered both groups to leave. "Every time a punch is thrown, I lose money," he said. The fighting continued in the parking lot, Miller said. As they shouted and chased each other around, the men and women in evening gowns walked outside to watch. Miller finally got one group, which included Dwyer, to leave. He said he then helped Kahrs and his three friends into their car. He said several of them were so drunk that he had to physically place them in the car. About 10 minutes later, he heard gunshots in the distance. Kahrs had gotten into a gold Subaru with Kenneth Montero, 22, Joshua Yoakum, 18, and Morgenstern, 21, all of New Port Richey. Montero told authorities that after leaving the bar, they traveled about 2 miles west on County Line Road and noticed a Chevrolet Caprice was following. The car pulled close behind and then sped past, Montero said. Someone started firing, he said. While the three passengers ducked, bullets hit Kahrs, who was driving, authorities said. He was unconscious when paramedics arrived and flew him to Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg. Montero told detectives Dwyer's name, saying he had known him many years ago. Authorities said Dwyer had met three friends at the pub: Jesus and Catherine Vazquez and Melissa Lee Wood, who live in Hernando County. Detectives went looking for Dwyer on Sunday. He did not answer the door, but detectives heard a television. They learned from neighbors that Dwyer had arrived home about 20 minutes earlier. Detectives heard Dwyer moving around in the attic. They yelled to him, and finally he agreed to talk, authorities said. Dwyer said he hid because of an outstanding warrant for failing to appear in court. During an interview at the Hernando Sheriff's Office, Dwyer said he had left the pub before the fight and shooting occurred, and only learned about the incident from a friend. Later, he said Vazquez had fired several shots at the car's tires because he wanted to continue fighting with the people inside. The three others riding in the Caprice told a different story. They told detectives that Dwyer was sitting in the rear passenger seat when he extended his arm and fired several shots from a handgun. Detectives refused to say whether they had the gun or what type it was. Authorities said Dwyer will be eligible for sentencing under the state's 10-20-life law, which requires a mandatory minimum of 25 years in prison for anyone who shoots someone and causes serious injury or death. Dwyer's criminal history includes charges of strong-armed robbery, aggravated battery, larceny and DUI. Kahrs also had a criminal history, which included charges of aggravated battery, robbery and grand theft auto. He was single and lived with his mother, Florence, in Holiday, said his brother, Brian. Kahrs had worked construction jobs with his brother since he was 13 and learned the trade quickly, Brian said. "He kind of took charge," Brian said. "He liked to teach other people what to do." Relatives gathered on Monday to grieve and finish funeral plans. They were already thinking of a trial. "We're going to try real hard for the death penalty," Brian said. The Hernando Sheriff's Office wants to talk to the men and women dressed in suits and evening gowns at Miller's Pub. The agency asked them to call Sgt. Doug Campbell at (352) 754-6830.
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From today's Hernando Times |
