SCOTTSDALE, AZ (AZFamily) — Five people are in custody after a man died from injuries sustained in a bar fight in Old Town Scottsdale earlier this month.
On Wednesday, Scottsdale police announced the arrests made in connection with the death of Thomas John “T.J.” Pizzitola, 29.
- Drew Meneses, 24
- Julius Husser, 27
- Tony Becker, 26
- Mark Whitford, 23
- Krista Molina, 27
Meneses was booked into Maricopa County Jail for second-degree murder and aggravated assault.
Husser, Becker and Whitford were also booked into Maricopa County Jail on accusations of aggravated assault. Molina was taken to Scottsdale City Jail and is accused of assault and disorderly conduct.
Police say Krista Molina (top left), Tony Becker (bottom left), Drew Meneses (center), Mark Whitford (top right) and Julius Husser (bottom right) were arrested in connection to a deadly Scottsdale bar fight.(Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office/Scottsdale Police Department)
According to court documents, Pizzitola and his two friends were dropped off at Pattie’s First Avenue Lounge, on 1st Avenue near Scottsdale Road, just before 10 p.m. on Oct. 10. Police said the group then went to two other bars before returning to Pattie’s sometime between 1:30 a.m. and 1:45 a.m.
While inside Pattie’s, court documents noted that the victims “were being unruly and obnoxious to other customers.” Staff asked security to remove Pizzitola and his friends. All three were escorted out of the bar, and security asked them to “not return for the evening” and to “leave the area,” court documents state.
Pattie’s staff then called Scottsdale police to report the disturbance. Scottsdale police arrived at the scene and said that since no crime had been committed, the group was released.
Just 30 minutes later, authorities say Pizzitola‘s friend group was waiting for their rideshare driver when one of the men bumped into a woman, identified as Molina. The man apologized and continued walking away. However, court documents state Molina began arguing with the victim. An argument broke out between Pizzitola’s group and Molina, whom Meneses, Husser, Becker, and Whitford accompanied.
The victims began walking to their rideshare pickup, but were followed by the suspects. Police say Meneses blindsided and punched Pizzitola, who was knocked unconscious.
“During that cell phone video, what you can see is the victim No. 1 [TJ] standing with his arms to his side and you can see the defendant in front of us today walk up behind him and essentially what we refer to as sucker punched him in the head,” said the prosecutor during Meneses’ first court appearance.
Pizzitola fell to the pavement, hitting his head and neck on the concrete.
“That one punch caused the victim to have brain injuries so severe that he went down completely unconscious and never recovered,” said the prosecutor.
As Pizzitola lay unconscious, the four men began attacking Pizzitola‘s two friends. The suspects swarmed around one of Pizzitola‘s friends as he was on the ground, attempting to protect himself, according to investigators.
“Instead of letting them walk away, the four men and the woman followed them,” the prosecutor said.
Cellphone video reportedly showed Meneses punching the victim in the torso and face. The four men then ran away from the scene before the police got to the bar.
Once police arrived, Pizzitola was lying unconscious on the sidewalk. He was rushed to the hospital but was later pronounced brain dead.
“It was a bad night. Things were not supposed to happen like that at all and there was no malicious intent for that at all,” said Meneses during his first court appearance.
Prosecutors said he also has a prior felony conviction for a different violent crime. The judge imposed a $1 million cash bond.
Investigators said Pizzitola’s organs were donated.
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