Two brothers beat California groom to death with baseball bats in front of horrified guests after crashing his wedding reception
CHINO, CALIFORNIA: Only a few hours after a California couple exchanged their wedding vows, two brothers crashed the reception and beat the groom to death using baseball bats, according to authorities.
The groom, 30-year-old Joe Melgoza was found suffering from blunt force trauma to the head in the backyard of his home across the street from the reception area on Sunday, December 15.
Melgoza was rushed to the Chino Valley Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries and passed away. He left behind his wife of a few hours, Esther Bustamante Melgoza, and his 11-year-old daughter.
According to information obtained from witnesses, authorities identified the suspects as brothers, 28-year-old Rony Aristides Castaneda Ramirez and 19-year-old Josue Daniel Castaneda Ramirez.
According to authorities, the siblings did not know Melgoza personally but lived close by to the home of his wife's family.
According to a report by KTLA5, the attackers showed up in the 13200 block of 17th Street where the reception was being held and joined the celebration uninvited. The Ramirez brothers picked a fight with some of the guests and were asked to leave the venue.
They left only to return with baseball bats, Melgoza's brother Andy Velasquez shared. Velasquez spoke to NBC Los Angeles and revealed that his brother had attempted to confront the cowards who pulled him away and killed him.
"My brother did not deserve to die like that, he was a good man, he was a solid man. My brother was protecting his family. They came and they murdered him," Velasquez said.
He added that Melgoza was like a father figure to him who had taught him how to be a man and how to raise his own son. A GoFundMe campaign was started to help the family with the funeral expenses.
The page read, "Joe was a loving son, brother, father, cousin, partner, family member and friend." It added, "He always had a way to make you smile. He was there for you at any time to give a helping hand. He was taken from us in such a tragic and horrific way."