Do you know who killed 60 year old David Keels in 1997? In the early morning hours of February 7, 1997, the life of 60-year-old David Keels, a hardworking family man, was cut short in a senseless act of violence on a quiet street in Yonkers, New York. A married father of three grown children, Keels was a familiar and beloved figure in his community. By day, he was a dedicated school bus driver, and by night, he owned and operated a local establishment called Bo Dicks Lounge on Warburton Avenue, a nickname many knew him by.
On the night of his
death, Keels had followed his usual routine. After working a shift at his bar, he closed up for the night and took a drive in his van. He parked on Ravine Avenue, just opposite number 77, a short distance from his home. As he exited his vehicle and began walking north, he was ambushed by an unknown assailant who shot him. The shooter then fled the scene, getting into the passenger side of a waiting vehicle which then sped off south on Ravine Avenue.
The investigation into the murder of David Keels quickly ruled out robbery as a motive. Keels was found with a significant amount of cash on his person, suggesting that his killer or killers were not after his money. This led detectives to believe that he was specifically targeted. The focus of the investigation turned towards his bar and the patrons it attracted. In the time leading up to his death, the clientele at Bo Dicks Lounge had shifted to a younger crowd, bringing with it issues of drugs and weapons that Keels, who ran a clean business, tried to prevent. He had reportedly ejected several individuals from his establishment for causing trouble.
Authorities explored various leads, including the theory that someone may have wanted to become a partner in the bar or take it over entirely. Prior to his murder, Keels had partnered with an individual to host weekend parties. While successful, these events also brought an undesirable element to the bar, prompting Keels to put a stop to them. This individual was considered a person of interest in the case. Over the years, several suspects have been looked at, but many have been eliminated. To this day, the murder of David Keels remains a cold case, and no arrests have ever been made, leaving his family and community still searching for answers and justice.
