Overview
- Thomas John “TJ” Pizzitola, 29, was found unconscious outside Pattie’s First Avenue Lounge around 2:15 a.m. on Oct. 11 and later died at a hospital, police said.
- Scottsdale police arrested five people on Oct. 22; Drew Meneses, 24, is charged with second-degree murder, while Julius Husser, Tony Becker and Mark Whitford face aggravated assault charges and Krista Molina faces assault-related counts.
- At a court hearing, Meneses said he was having “a bad night” and denied malicious intent, and he is being held on $1 million bail.
- Prosecutors say cellphone video shows Pizzitola standing with his arms at his sides when Meneses approached from behind and struck him.
- Pizzitola’s wife, Krisan, is due to give birth in the coming weeks; the family says his organs saved lives and a GoFundMe has raised more than $76,000.