A bar manager in Santa Monica tragically died after being struck by a patron he had ejected to prevent a fight, according to police reports. The incident occurred just after midnight on Monday at Jameson’s Pub, a well-known local establishment.
The Santa Monica Police Department received a call about a fight and arrived to find the bar manager unconscious and not breathing. Officers immediately performed CPR, and the Santa Monica Fire Department also attempted life-saving measures. Unfortunately, the manager was pronounced dead at the hospital. Police discovered that the manager had been punched by a man he had removed from the bar along with several others after an altercation outside.
Lt. Erika Aklufi of the Santa Monica Police Department confirmed that only one punch was thrown, and there was no prior violence leading up to the attack. Initially, three individuals were detained, but witness accounts and surveillance footage identified 26-year-old Leonard Hector Korpie of Venice as the assailant. Korpie has been charged with homicide and his bail set at $2 million.
The names of the other patrons involved were not released, and it remains unclear if they will face charges. A spokesperson for Jameson’s Pub expressed the establishment’s grief, stating, “We are still in shock at the sudden loss of a person who was a respected and esteemed member of our restaurant’s family. He was well liked by both customers and staff, and his passing has been deeply felt by all of us.”
Residents in Southern California have voiced concerns over rising crime rates despite the high cost of living in the region. In another alarming incident, a homeless man reportedly attempted to drag a jogging woman by her ponytail towards a public bathroom at a Santa Monica beach before being stopped by bystanders.
Police urge anyone with information about the bar incident to contact Detective Hector Tavera of the Santa Monica Police Department.
