Man accused of running over El Paso couple outside bar gets bond lowered

UPDATE, June 21: Donovan Paul Byers, the man charged in a murder and aggravated assault of an El Paso couple outside Adrian's Bar in south-central had his bond substantially lowered at a court hearing Monday.

Byers was being held on a million-dollar bond for the murder charge involving the death of Adrian Samuel Linton and a $250,000 bond on the aggravated assault charge for allegedly striking Linton's wife, Cecilia Chavez, with his car.

Police say the couple got into a fight with Byers outside the bar. Investigators believe Byers reversed his Mustang and ran into the couple, killing Linton and severely injuring Chavez.

Byers' new bond is now set at $300,000 on the murder charge and $100,000 for the aggravated assault. The judge also allowed for half of the new bond amounts to be personal recognizance, which would allow Byers to be released by posting a $200,000 cash equivalent total.

UPDATE, May 17: A 27-year-old El Paso man has been arrested on murder and aggravated assault charges for allegedly intentionally running over a couple with his car outside a south-central El Paso bar, police announced Monday.

Donovan Paul Byers was being held on $1.25 million bond in the El Paso County Detention Facility.

Detectives said Byers targeted the pair after having a disagreement with them outside of Adrian’s Bar at 300 Luna Street, just after Saturday's 2 a.m. closing time. Byers got into his car and "drove his Ford Mustang in reverse at a high rate of speed, jumped the curb and pinned the married couple against a wall on the west side of the bar," police wrote in an incident report.

33–year-old Adrian Samuel Linton was killed and his wife, 35 –year old Cecilia Chavez, was seriously injured and remained hospitalized at University Medical Center.

Byers fled the scene immediately after striking the two, but was later identified by detectives and taken into custody. In an arrest affidavit filed by police, it said Byers claimed he was unaware that he had struck anyone with his car.

ORIGINAL REPORT, May 15: EL PASO, Texas -- Two pedestrians were struck by vehicles in separate incidents early Saturday in which at least one was deadly, according to authorities.

The first incident involved a hit and run around 2:45 a.m., according to police, which happened at 3400 Gateway East and Luna Street in south-central El Paso; the victim suffered serious injuries and later died at University Medical Center.

Police said the man's death was being investigated by detectives as a homicide.

Later in the morning, police summoned traffic investigators about 6:20 a.m. to another call involving a pedestrian struck, which occurred at Paisano and Nino Aguilera.

No further details were provided on the second situation.