Left inset: Gustavo Elias (Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office). Right inset: Dezjon Hamilton (GoFundMe). Background: The motorcycle that Dezjon Hamilton was riding in Arizona when Gustavo Elias struck and killed him with his SUV (AZ Family/KNN/YouTube).
In a tragic incident, an expectant father in Arizona lost his life after being struck by a vehicle driven by a man who claimed the victim had been “taunting him” by revving his motorcycle engine both at a Walmart and on the road, according to police reports.
Gustavo Elias, aged 29, is now facing charges that include second-degree murder and reckless child abuse after he allegedly drove his Chevrolet Tahoe into 21-year-old Dezjon Hamilton. The collision occurred in Chandler while Elias had two children in the SUV, as noted in a probable cause affidavit reviewed by Law&Crime.
According to the affidavit, “Both children recounted witnessing a confrontation between the driver of the Tahoe and the motorcyclist.” The document identifies Elias as the driver, with one of the children being his stepson and the other a friend of the stepson.
The affidavit further details that “the altercation started at the intersection of Arizona and Ray Road, with the motorcycle revving its engine loudly in front of the Tahoe.” Elias reportedly told authorities that this was not the first instance of such behavior, recalling a similar situation in a Walmart parking lot.
Both Elias and Hamilton were residents of the same apartment complex. Speaking through a Spanish interpreter, Elias informed investigators that previous confrontations with Hamilton had occurred “on several occasions,” according to the affidavit.
Elias alleged that Hamilton would “often rev his engine loudly and speed through the parking lot.” Prior to the fatal incident, Elias admitted to consuming 12 Corona beers and taking cocaine, as reported by the police.
“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 reportedly told police that while at the red light, Hamilton “reversed his bike and began revving its engine,” according to police.
“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.”
Elias and Hamilton were allegedly spotted by witnesses speeding westbound on Ray Road with the motorcycle in front of the Tahoe. Elias continued to increase his speed and pulled up to the left side of Hamilton, per 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 says, alleging that Elias “sped up to catch the motorcycle, aware that children were in the vehicle” but not caring.
“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 allegedly told police that they saw Elias speaking with a man at the scene who was shouting at him. “You did this,” the man told Elias, according to the witnesses and police. “This is your fault.”
Elias allegedly replied, “I know this is my fault.”
Hamilton suffered a “catastrophic cervical injury” after being mowed down and was placed on a ventilator. He was taken off life support over the weekend after doctors told his family that he was “brain dead” and “not waking up,” AZ Family reports.
“It’s over,” Hamilton’s sister told the local media outlet, which reported Saturday that Hamilton had died.
A GoFundMe created for the family says Hamilton’s girlfriend is pregnant.
“We are now faced with the unimaginable task of saying goodbye far too soon,” the GoFundMe says. “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 on Elias, who is a citizen of Mexico, allegedly revealed that his BAC was 0.158 after the crash — nearly twice the legal limit of 0.08. He has been ordered held on a $500,000 cash-only appearance bond.
