CORNELIUS, N.C. -- The man facing murder charges after a fatal hit-and-run crash in Cornelius actually works at the bar where the victim had been the night before.

Police say Michael Anthony Petrone had been drinking at that same bar, Midtown Sundries, the night of the wreck. He came back to work there the next morning after the crash on Catawba Avenue, where he was arrested.

The victim, 22-year-old Patrick Gay, had only been living in the Charlotte area for two weeks. Gay's father Tom lives in Virginia, and said his middle child was easy going, and had just received his college diploma in May.

Tom Gay said his son was following in his footsteps, choosing a career in mortgage banking. He had also made strides to be responsible, choosing to walk home from a bar Saturday night instead of getting behind the wheel.

Police say Petrone didn't make that same choice. His heavily damaged car was found less than two miles from where Gay was hit.

It turns out this wasn't the first time Petrone was arrested on drunken driving charges. Since 2003, he's been accused of driving while impaired twice in Davie County, and he was arrested on drunken driving charges six months ago in Forsyth County.

Petrone has also been booked on drug charges three times and driving with a revoked license four times -- never spending more than 30 days in jail.

Now, Petrone is facing charges of second degree murder and driving while impaired for the wreck that killed a 22-year-old just starting life after college.

Since his arrest, Petrone is no longer an employee at Midtown Sundries. He scheduled to make his first appearance in court Tuesday afternoon.

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