Dimtsu M. Haileselassie, a 62-year-old Ethiopian man, was a believer in the American dream, a faith that led him from his home country to Louisville, Kentucky, in pursuit of a better life. In the South Louisville neighborhood of Taylor Berry, a place he chose because he felt safe, he owned a liquor store on Taylor Boulevard, just a short distance from the iconic Churchill Downs. This business was a venture he and his wife embarked on, a new chapter in a life that had already overcome the hardship of fleeing his native land. To his family, he was the epitome of pulling oneself up and bringing his family and community with him.
On a Monday morning in June 2021, the life Dimtsu had built was tragically cut short. He was inside his store when a suspect, captured on surveillance footage, entered. The individual reportedly used an ATM, checking the balance, before allegedly shooting Dimtsu to death during what authorities believe was a robbery. The discovery of his body was a devastating blow to his family; his wife and nephew were the ones to find him. The violence of his death stood in stark contrast to his peaceful nature and his belief that if you were kind to people, you would be safe.
In the immediate aftermath, the Louisville Metro Police Department released images of the suspect to the public, seeking help in identifying the individual responsible for the homicide. However, days turned into weeks, and weeks into years without an arrest. Three years after his death, Dimtsu Haileselassie's case was transferred to the Cold Case Unit, a source of deep pain for his loved ones who felt his case was no longer a priority. His family, still grieving and searching for answers, has continued to plead with the community for any information that could lead to an arrest, even offering a significant financial reward. They remember him as a man of faith, a constant presence in the first pew at church, and a champion for the youth in his community, making the lack of justice in his case an enduring heartbreak.
