Marine veteran dies after fight at Merced County bar

A 22-year-old Marine Corps veteran is dead from injuries suffered from an apparent assault reported Sunday at a Stevinson bar, the Merced County Sheriff’s Department told the Merced Sun-Star.

Miguel De La Cruz of Newman had been placed on life support, but was pronounced dead by Monday evening, deputies said.

De La Cruz apparently was involved in a large brawl around 2 a.m. Sunday in the parking lot of the Stevinson Bar & Grill in the 20000 block of Third Avenue in Stevinson, Sgt. Delray Shelton said.

Exactly what happened remained unclear Monday, and investigators are seeking information about the incident from the public.

“Detectives are really hoping someone from the public comes forward to help identify any patrons who may have been at the bar that night,” Detective Sgt. Chuck Hale said.

Hale said investigators would like to hear about anyone who may have checked into the bar via Facebook or other social media any time Saturday night or early Sunday. “It’s absolutely critical for people who even just had friends they know were there to come forward, to contact us. You don’t even have to leave a name, just provide the information.”

Sheriff’s deputies were notified of the incident early Sunday. De La Cruz apparently was taken by friends to a Turlock hospital, following the incident. He was later transported to a hospital in Modesto, where he remained Monday.

According to sheriff’s detectives, Cruz served a tour of duty in Afghanistan and returned home in late 2013.

Deputies said the Sheriff’s Department has been called to the bar numerous times to settle violent disputes and other issues. Efforts to contact the owner of the bar Monday were unsuccessful.

Shelton noted it was particularly tragic for the victim to have served a tour of duty in a war zone only to be fatally injured in his own community.

De La Cruz’s death is the 25th homicide reported this year in Merced County.

This story was originally published October 6, 2014 at 5:05 PM.