A Santa Monica bar manager tragically lost his life after attempting to break up a fight outside the bar he managed. The incident occurred when the manager, whose identity has not been disclosed by the police, asked several patrons to leave the establishment. Leonard Hector Korpie, a 26-year-old California resident, is accused of throwing a single punch that led to the manager’s death. Korpie has been charged with murder and has entered a plea of not guilty.
The incident took place at Jameson’s Pub on Main Street in Santa Monica. According to a police statement, officers responded to a call about a battery at the bar around 12:05 a.m. on Tuesday. Upon arrival, they found the manager unconscious and not breathing. Despite immediate attempts at CPR by the police and subsequent lifesaving measures by the Santa Monica Fire Department, the manager succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital.
Santa Monica police Lt. Erika Aklufi provided further details about the incident. She explained that an argument broke out on the sidewalk outside the bar. A single punch was thrown, and the manager likely hit his head as he fell to the ground. Lt. Aklufi highlighted the tragic nature of the incident, noting how a minor altercation, fueled by alcohol, turned into a life-altering event with devastating consequences.
Following the incident, three patrons were taken into custody at the Santa Monica Jail. After conducting an investigation, the police identified Korpie as the individual responsible for the fatal punch.
The news of the incident has left regular patrons of Jameson’s Pub in shock. Many expressed their sadness and disbelief at the tragic turn of events. They described the bar as a generally peaceful place, with one patron stating they had never witnessed a fight there in all their years of patronage. Others expressed their sympathy for the victim and his family, and their outrage at the senseless violence.
Korpie’s bail has been set at $2 million, and a preliminary hearing has been scheduled for July 17.