2 stabbed to death at sports bar owned by Detroit Red Wings' Chris Chelios

Tuesday, January 2nd 2007, 9:42 pm

By: News On 6

DETROIT (AP) _ Two people were found stabbed to death Tuesday morning at a sports bar owned by Detroit Red Wings defenseman Chris Chelios, authorities said. Police arrested a former employee, according to news reports.

The victims were a man and woman who both worked for Cheli's Chili Bar, officials said. They were found shortly after 9 a.m. on the restaurant's second floor, said police spokeswoman Yvette Walker.

A former employee was arrested, the Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News reported. Earlier, Police Chief Ella Bully-Cummings told the Free Press that ``a former disgruntled employee'' may have been responsible.

The newspapers identified the victims as Megan Soroka, 49, of suburban Dearborn, and Mark Barnard, 52, of Detroit.

Soroka was a manager and Barnard was a cook, the papers said.

A message seeking additional information was left Tuesday night with police.

Police also questioned other employees in the restaurant at the time of the killings, believed to be shortly before 9 a.m. The three-story building sits next to Comerica Park, home of the Detroit Tigers.

``We are deeply saddened by the tragedy that occurred at our establishment this morning,'' Chelios said in a statement. ``Our hearts go out to the families of the victims _ they were wonderful employees and were part of our family.''

Chelios opened the sports bar and restaurant in 2005. The restaurant, which has a banner honoring former Red Wings captain Steve Yzerman hanging from an exterior wall, had been expected to have a busy night Tuesday because of a ceremony at Joe Louis Arena honoring Yzerman.

The restaurant planned to remain closed Tuesday night, said spokeswoman Jennifer Cooper.