A young father of one with a second child on the way was beaten to death late last month outside a Chicago bar, and cops need help locating his killers.
Blunt force trauma was the cause of death for Alexander “Xander” Kazanowski, who was found unresponsive on a street in the Chicago neighborhood of Avondale at 3:20 a.m. the morning of March 25.
Local reports indicated Kazanowski, who worked as a model, was asked to leave a bar called the Tune-Up because of a number of off-color comments he had made.
Kazanowski kept talking outside the bar to a group of four people who ended up jumping him.
Kazanowski, who was 25 years old at the time of his death, was taken to the nearest emergency room but was pronounced dead soon after his arrival.
Cook County Crime Stoppers said he was bludgeoned to death.
The Chicago Police Department has shared video and photos of the four suspects — three Black men and an Asian woman.
Police said they have video of the four suspects at the bar, but it was unclear if the fatal attack was caught on camera.
In addition to his work as a model, Kazanowski listed himself as the chief executive officer and founder of Wurk, a Chicago-area company that provides household services to clients.
Kazanowski is survived by his partner, Tori Zanoni, their daughter, Thea, and their soon-to-be-born son, John.
“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,” read his obituary. “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.”
Kazanowski was an organ donor, according to reports.
“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.
Those who have any information about this tragic case are urged to contact Cook County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-535-STOP. You can also submit anonymous tips through their website. There are cash rewards up to $10,000 for information leading to an arrest.
