Scottsdale, AZ – Five people were arrested following a fight outside a local bar that left a man dead. Drew Meneses, age 24, faces a second-degree murder charge in the alleged death of Thomas John “TJ” Pizzitola.
Pizzitola was reportedly involved in an altercation outside Pattie’s First Avenue bar early on October 11. Meneses is accused of throwing a punch that resulted in severe brain injury to Pizzitola, who subsequently fell unconscious and did not recover.
Others charged include Mark Whitford, 23, Tony Becker, 26, and Julius Husser, 27, who face aggravated assault charges. Krista Molina, also 27, is charged with assault and disorderly conduct.
According to a criminal complaint, Pizzitola and his friends were asked to leave the bar for unruly behavior just after 2 a.m. While awaiting a rideshare, a confrontation started after one of Pizzitola’s group accidentally bumped into a woman in Meneses’ party.
Video evidence allegedly shows Meneses delivering a punch to Pizzitola, who was not facing him at the time. Prosecutor Angela Andrews described the punch as causing irreversible damage leading to Pizzitola’s death.
The suspects fled the scene but were arrested later in the week. Meneses stated in court that he did not intend for any harm to occur, describing the night as an unfortunate incident.
Pizzitola had recently married in July and was expecting his first child with his wife. Friends have established a GoFundMe page to support his family during this time.