Protesters gather at Richard’s Bar demanding justice for barista stabbed to death there last month

Matthew Meza left, and his wife Dina Paterimos, stand near Richard’s Bar, along with a dozen other family, friends and supporters, demanding justice for Kenneth Paterimos, Tuesday, March 3, 2020. Kenneth was fatally stabbed outside Richard’s Bar last month. | Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times

Protesters gathered outside Richard’s Bar in West Town Tuesday night to demand justice for Kenneth Paterimos, the 23-year-old barista who was stabbed to death outside the bar last month.

Paterimos’ family says the suspect in the killing — 30-year-old Thomas Tansey — yelled a homophobic slur at Paterimos before stabbing him multiple times outside the bar, which Chicago police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said witnesses at the scene confirmed.

An arrest warrant is out for Tansey in connection with the attack as of Saturday. Though he was taken into custody at the scene of the attack on Feb. 21, he was later released without charges after claiming self-defense, police said.

Family of Kenneth Paterimos, stand in front of Richard’s Bar, demanding justice, Tuesday, March 3, 2020. Kenneth was fatally stabbed outside Richard’s Bar last month.

At the bar Tuesday night, family and friends tried to enter to host a vigil for Paterimos, but the doors were locked. They chanted “justice for Kenny” as a police presence grew.

Anthony Clark, a candidate running for Illinois’ 7th Congressional District, which includes Richard’s Bar at 491 N. Milwaukee Ave., decried Tansey’s initial release and urged the mourners gathered outside to “continue to apply pressure” to see that Tansey is arrested, charged and convicted in Paterimos’ murder.

“The burden is on us. Justice is not going to come to us,” Clark said outside the bar Tuesday night.

“I guarantee you — I am a black male, I am a teacher, I am a candidate. If I stood outside of an establishment that is predominately white and I stabbed someone to death, I would have never been released, and quite honestly I would have been convicted before we even had a trial.”

Eventually, police tried to break up the group, and started blocking the door to Richard’s Bar. At one point, dozens of officers created a barrier between protesters and the bar.

Chicago Police have now split the group outside Richard's Bar, while family and supporters are chanting "Justice for Kenny" #Chicago pic.twitter.com/acBnLqjRnB

— Tyler LaRiviere (@TylerLaRiviere) March 4, 2020

Paterimos’ family brought posters demanding justice for the slain 23-year-old, along with a memorial poster board covered in photos of their loved one for attendees to sign.

Court records show Tansey is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps who was convicted of battery three years ago after he pulled a gun on a man in the northwest suburbs and tackled him to the ground.

Family, friends and supporters protest outside Richard’s Bar, demanding justice for Kenneth Paterimos, Tuesday, March 3, 2020. Kenneth was fatally stabbed outside Richard’s Bar last month. |