A Chicago dad who is expecting his second child was bludgeoned to death outside a bar in an early morning attack — as police seek to question four persons of interest who have eluded capture in the crime-ridden city for two weeks.
Alexander “Xander” Kazanowski, 25, died of blunt force trauma after he was found unresponsive in the bustling Chicago neighborhood of Avondale at around 3:20 a.m. on March 25.
Kazanowski, an Illinois-based model, had allegedly been asked to leave the bar he was in because of several comments he had made, according to WGN-TV.
After exiting the tavern, Kazanowski exchanged words with a group of people outside before he was discovered in critical condition, the outlet added.
The young father was rushed to a local hospital and died days later, according to officials.
Kazanowski’s body showed signs of injuries consistent with a fatal beating, Cook County Crime Stoppers said.
The Chicago Police Department opened up a homicide investigation, sharing footage of the four people suspected in Kazanowski’s death.
Officials described the quartet as consisting of three African American males and an Asian female.
Security cameras captured the four suspects entering the bar, Tune-Up, the night of the apparent attack, according to video released by the Chicago Police Department on Tuesday.
It was not clear if the video was before or after the alleged assault.
Kazanowski had built his portfolio as a model, particularly for wedding and bridal shoots.
He also listed himself as the chief executive officer and founder of the Chicago-area company Wurk, which provides household services to clients.
Kazanowski’s partner, Tori, remembered him in a heartbreaking tribute post to her Instagram Story.
“To my favorite pool playing, antique thrifting suit wearing, weiner man. Our lives won’t be the same without you,” she wrote alongside a photo of them wearing wedding attire.
His family described him as a man with an “unrelenting entrepreneurial spirit,” a love of God, and a modern-day Renaissance man.
“Xander lived life at full speed and with a rare intensity. While his time with us was cut far too short, he lived more in his twenty-five years than many do in a lifetime,” his obituary read.
“No description could possibly do justice to Xander’s character. He possessed a natural charisma that enlivened every room he entered. Truly one of a kind, he was a rare example of a man who had the resolve to carve his own path and live entirely on his own terms.
“Our hearts are absolutely shattered by the profound tragedy of losing such an irreplaceable personality at such a young age,” his family wrote.
Kazanowski is survived by his partner, their daughter, Thea, and their soon-to-be born son, John, his parents, siblings and extended family.
At the time of his death, Kazanowski donated several organs to other patients.
“True to his character, his final act was a perfect expression of his generous heart. As an organ donor, he saved multiple lives and helped countless others move closer to the miracle of a second chance,” his family said.
