A Toronto man visiting Louisville for the Kentucky Derby was shot and killed in what appeared to be a robbery attempt late Saturday, local police say.

Scott Hunter, who worked as a bartender at the House on Parliament on Parliament Street, was visiting the area with a friend for the famous horse race.

Three people have been arrested and face murder and robbery charges in connection with Hunter's killing. Among the charged are a brother and sister. They're identified as 19-year-old Tyrone Thomas, 20-year-old Fatima Abu-Diab and 18-year-old Fahed Abu-Diab.

Police believe the trio is responsible for as many as nine robberies in the last three days.

Police said Hunter and a friend were walking around 9 p.m. in the Highland Park neighbourhood of Louisville when they were approached and an altercation ensued. Hunter was shot and pronounced dead at the scene. His friend was not hurt.

Hunter worked at House on Parliament, a popular downtown Toronto bar, for nine years and was well known to patrons and around the neighbourhood.

In a Facebook post, House on Parliament staff mourned the death of Hunter, describing him as a "tough as nails co-worker with a heart of gold."

He was "always there with a warm hug, shoulder to cry on, a quick grin and funny as hell," the statement continued.

Hunter was also one of the owners of Grinder Coffee, in the Jones Avenue and Gerrard Street area, according to a post on the coffee shop's Facebook page. It will be setting up a condolences book at the shop.