3 Charged in Fatal Fight

Prosecutors today filed criminal charges against three San Gabriel Valley men for their alleged involvement in the assault and death of a military reservist, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced.

VIDEO: A VIDEO OF THE FATAL ATTACK HAS SURFACED. CLICK HERE

Susan Steinfeld, assistant head deputy of the Pasadena Branch Office, said Fernando Sabino Ramirez, 25, Jonas Cardenas Ramos, 24, and Angel Christopher Moroyoqui, 21, are each charged with one count of assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury.

Ramirez also is charged with one count of involuntary manslaughter. The criminal complaint includes special allegations as to the alleged assault that Ramirez personally inflicted great bodily injury on victim Joshua Martinez, 25.

Defendants Ramos and Moroyoqui are expected to be arraigned this afternoon in Department D of the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Pasadena Branch. Ramirez is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow.

Ramirez, of Rowland Heights, is accused of physically assaulting Joshua Martinez outside a restaurant in Old Town Pasadena on Aug. 5. Ramos, of San Gabriel, and Moroyoqui, of El Monte, allegedly aided Ramirez in the assault.

Following the altercation, Martinez was transported to a local hospital where he later died. The victim was an active reservist in the United States Marine Corps, police said.

The case remains under investigation by the Pasadena Police Department. Prosecutors have recommended that bail be set at $60,000 for Ramirez and $30,000 each for Ramos and Moroyoqui. If convicted as charged, Ramirez faces a maximum prison sentence of nine years. Ramos and Moroyoqui could be sentenced up to four years each.

Deputy District Attorney Christine Kee will prosecute the case.

The incident began with police receiving two calls in rapid succession early Monday morning  – the first of a “combative subject” in a restaurant and the second of a man down on the sidewalk in the 100 block of East Colorado Blvd.

The victim was unresponsive, authorities said, and Pasadena Fire Paramedics transported the victim to a local area hospital.

Pasadena detectives have determined the victim was part of a group that had been ejected earlier from the IX Tapa Cantina Lounge Restaurant at 119 E. Colorado Blvd.

Lt. Terysa Rojas said there was a dispute between two groups at the restaurant and both were told to leave.

A short distance to the west on the sidewalk near Barney’s Beanery restaurant, the victim was attacked by heavy-set Hispanic man who struck him once. The victim fell to the ground and as a result of the fall “sustained significantly serious injury” which left him unconscious, Lt. Tom Delgado said.