Crime & Safety

Bouncer Dies After Bar Fight

Two men are being sought in connection with the beating death of an employee at Pats II Cocktails in South Redondo Beach.

Update: ; officers are still searching for a second.

Original story:

Redondo Beach police are searching for two men in connection with the early-morning beating death of an employee at in South Redondo Beach, according to a news release from the police department.

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Police arrived shortly before 2 a.m. after receiving multiple 911 calls about a fight between the employee and two male patrons, police said. Upon officers' arrival, they discovered the employee—unconscious but breathing—lying on the sidewalk.

The man, who worked as the bar's bouncer, died from his injuries at a local hospital, according to the news release. Police have not released his name pending next of kin notification; however, another employee and someone who said she was a friend of the man identified him as "Terry."

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"It was a beating," police Sgt. Fabian Saucedo told Patch. "It was ... a blunt-force type thing."

Surveillance cameras captured the beating, and detectives have reviewed the video, Saucedo said.

"It appears to us that they showed up fairly close to closing, last call was made," he said. The bouncer told the men they couldn't come in, and "they took exception to that, I guess, and it escalated from there."

Sgt. Shawn Freeman said one man started throwing punches, knocking the victim to the ground, and another came over.

"It's hard to tell what's happening" in the video, Freeman said.

The bar closes at 2 a.m. No witnesses heard the fight, Saucedo said.

Saucedo said officers are looking for two men involved in the fight. Police described the men as Hispanics in their early 30s, and said one had a ponytail.

The two men left in a white 2003 Audi with California license plate 5DQM959, police said.

"Right now, it's an ongoing investigation," Saucedo told Patch.

The bar will remain closed Saturday and will reopen Sunday at 9 a.m., according to a handwritten note left on the door of the establishment. A makeshift memorial has already been set up outside Pats II Cocktails.

A bar employee said a collection jar will be set out Sunday to raise money for the employee's child.

Anyone with information about the fight or the whereabouts of the two men is asked to call the tip line at 310-937-6685, text 310-339-2362 or email crimetips@redondo.org. People may also contact the police department directly at 310-379-2477.

City News Service contributed to this report.


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