SANTA CLARITA : Newhall Man Dies Trying to Stop Fight

A Newhall man trying to break up a fight between his brother and another man was shot and killed Tuesday in the parking lot of a Santa Clarita bar, authorities said.

Alejandro Gonzalez, 41, died shortly after he was shot twice in the chest as he attempted to end the 12:25 a.m. scuffle outside Herald’s Club on San Fernando Road, said Deputy Angie McLaughlin of the Sheriff’s Department.

Gonzalez’s brother, Roque, 29, also was shot in the fight. He was in serious condition with a gunshot wound to the face at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital.

The gunman was being sought Tuesday.

McLaughlin said the three men began arguing inside the bar and walked out the back door to settle the dispute in the parking lot. A fistfight broke out between Roque Gonzalez and the other man, who quickly gained the advantage and began pummeling Gonzalez.

When Alejandro Gonzalez tried to separate the two men, the unidentified man pulled out a small handgun and shot him twice. He then turned and shot his brother in the face before jumping into his green pickup truck and speeding away.

Bartender Hien Ta said the three men appeared to know each other and had bought each other beers before the fight erupted. Ta said he thought the men were leaving the bar to talk because the music was too loud.

Minutes later, though, Ta said, he heard the gunshots and saw Roque Gonzalez stumble back into the bar with blood streaming from his face.