The Daily News of Los Angeles
November 30, 2007 Friday
VALLEY EDITION
SUSPECTS SOUGHT IN FATAL BEATING OF MAN OUTSIDE CLUB
By Rick Coca Staff Writer
WOODLAND HILLS — Police are looking for a group of men involved in a
deadly weekend brawl outside a nightclub with a history of
fistfights, police said Thursday.
Marco Antonio Herrera, 18, of Reseda, was leaving the Club Red Square
around 2 a.m. Saturday with a group of friends when they began
arguing with another group, said Los Angeles Police Department
Detective Joel Price.
As several fights broke out, Herrera was attacked and knocked to the
ground.
“He was beaten repeatedly, stomped and kicked,” Price said.
Neighbor Luis Ochoa didn’t see the fight but heard the early morning
ruckus.
“I heard loud screaming,” Ochoa said. “I kept hearing something
like: Get up! Get up! … Get up, as in you S.O.B.”
Herrera was taken to Northridge Medical Center where he died Tuesday
night of major head trauma.
Police are looking for a black man and about a half dozen Armenian
men who were allegedly involved in the attack, Price said. It appears
that the black man and the Armenians were together or knew each
other, Price said.
Police are also looking for two vehicles seen leaving the fight: a
2002 to 2004, white with gray trim Jeep Grand Cherokee, and a 2005 to
2007 cream-colored Chrysler 300 with a sunroof and oversized chrome
wheels.
The fight outside the club was preceded by a skirmish inside, Price
said.
The club was shut down for a time because it didn’t have a proper
dance-hall license and because neighbors complained. Marina
Gambarini, a part-owner in the club, said she and her partner have
met with police and Councilman Dennis Zine and his staff to implement
changes to make the environment in and around the club safer.
Despite adding outdoor lighting, increasing security and limiting
aggressive hip-hop music — which she said police believe attracts
gang members — there’s only so much she and her staff can do.
“If police would do some rounds, I think that’s the only thing
(troublemakers) are scared of,” Gambarini said. “They’re not scared
of us or our security. … They are only scared when they see a
police car.”
Anyone with information should call the police at (818) 374-7725.