EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — Police seek new leads into the unsolved murder of an El Paso musician six years ago.
Crime Stoppers of El Paso and detectives with the El Paso Police Department are asking the community for help in identifying a man shown in a surveillance video, as they believe he has “crucial information” on the murder of 63-year-old Chester Charles “Chet” Woodward, a blues musician who frequently performed at the Cincinnati Bar District in West El Paso and was stabbed to death after a gig back in 2019.
Surveillance footage of the unknown man sought in the 2019 murder of El Paso musician Chet Woodward (credit: Crime Stoppers of El Paso)
The video concerns a man wearing what investigators described as a dark Levi’s hooded jacket.
Levi’s hoodie, investigators say the man in the surveillance video is wearing. Credit: Crime Stoppers of El Paso
Anyone who recognizes the man or has any information on the murder is urged to call Crime Stoppers of El Paso at 566-8477 or drop a tip online at CSElPaso.org.
All tips will be anonymous, and tips that lead to an arrest could get a cash reward.
RELATED: Police search for suspect involved in murder of man in west El Paso in 2019
EPPD said Woodward was found unconscious at around 10:42 p.m. on the night of Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019.
Detectives said Woodward had left the Rockin’ Cigar Bar before he was stabbed while waiting for the streetcar.
Officers found Woodward after they got calls about an unconscious man.
Woodward was rushed to the hospital; however, he did not survive.
Woodward appeared to have been well known and well liked by people who visited the Cincinnati Bar District.
RELATED: Police investigate deadly stabbing at Cincinnati Entertainment District
Chester Charles “Chet” Woodward (credit: Crime Stoppers)
“He loved it here. He loved Cincinnati Street. This was his street. Everybody on the block knows who ‘Chet’ is,” said Rudy of West El Paso. “So many memories, so many conversations we’ve had with him. We’re all just going to take some drinks right now and remember him.”
“I always told ‘Chet’ every time I left the bar, watch the bar, it’s on you,” he said. “I can’t believe that people are out here doing this. This is a nice neighborhood.”
“What’s crazy was that last night there was hardly any people out here. This is crazy,” said Vicente Santaella. “He was like in a band, so he would go on tours with other artists and he was a drummer, so he would rock out.”
“He was always willing to help. In fact, he actually did the parking duty every weekend here. He was our parking guard,” said Rudy.
“He would get mad whenever anybody would change the station to hip-hop; it had to be rock n’ roll, it just had to be,” said Rudy. “I love you Chet RIP and we’re going to catch the guy that did this.”
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