Beating victim far from out of the woods; no arrests
By Kathryn Reed
“Right now we just hope he does not stop breathing.”
If he does, it means Derek Penaranda will likely have died.
Penaranda’s parents are hoping and praying their son will survive the beating he sustained in a South Lake Tahoe bar last weekend. Today he is clinging to life in a coma at Renown Medical Center in Reno.
Penaranda, who is called Zippy by everyone who knows him, was in town to celebrate his 30th birthday with family and friends. They had rented a place in the Tahoe Keys.
Derek "Zippy" Penaranda and Katie Musselwhite planned to get married one day. Photo/Provided
Before two taxis took the group of friends to Mo’s Place, the gang had spent part of last Saturday kayaking in the canals of the Keys, with some going out to the lake.
Because Penaranda was born on his parents’ anniversary, they have seldom celebrated it – instead deferring to their son. This year was different. Both occasions were being celebrated in Lake Tahoe.
That celebration took a tragic turn when a phone call came in the early hours of May 20 telling Debbie and Wayne Penaranda to get to Barton Memorial Hospital.
What sticks with Wayne Penaranda is overhearing someone in the emergency room say how when his son was turned over on the floor of the bar he was blue.
“At that time I expected the worst possible outcome primarily on what I know about those types of injuries … when you are deprived of oxygen,” Penaranda told Lake Tahoe News.
He said he doesn’t know the particulars that resulted in his son being punched unconscious as well as the owner of the bar, Mo Patel.
No one at Mo’s would talk to Lake Tahoe News on May 25, but said Patel was expected in this weekend.
South Tahoe police are also not releasing details of the fight or the investigation.
What Penaranda said he was told is no one was allowed to approach his son as he laid on the floor of the bar not breathing. It was first responders who got him breathing again.
At Renown a cat scan showed Zippy’s vertebrae and spinal cord were intact, and that his skull was not fractured. But there was swelling and bleeding in the brain.
“He had numerous contusions on his chest and back where he was kicked and stomped,” Penaranda said of his son. “His heart had stopped.”
An EEG showed brain activity.
On Tuesday it was time for an MRI.
“The MRI showed extensive cerebral cortex damage,” Penaranda said.
The Penarandas returned home to Ripon, in the San Joaquin Valley, with only two of their three sons. They are back in Reno this weekend to be with Zippy. Penaranda said it’s been a constant flow of people to the hospital. The people in the small agriculture town have been showing their support for the family, including setting up a Facebook page and arranging for a barbecue to honor Zippy on Sunday. (That will be at noon at Mistlin Sports Park, Ripon.)
Zippy has been living with his longtime girlfriend Katie Musselwhite. The Penarandas expected they’d be married one day and provide them with grandchildren. Zippy works for California Living and Energy in Ceres.
For now, though, his job is to fight for his life.
“Medically, the next phase is for them to stabilize him. Our hope is now he can breath with minimal help from the resuscitation machine and apparatus,” Penaranda said with hope. “As soon as he is healthy enough, then a long-term care facility, then hopefully he regains consciousness and then some form of rehabilitation.”
If Zippy survives this ordeal, it will be a long road to recovery, and perhaps never to the life he knew.
Bryan Stowe, who was 41 when he was attacked in March 2011 at Dodger game, took months to open his eyes. A website providing updates on Stowe, says, “Bottom line and without sugarcoating anything, Bryan is far from the old Bryan and each day is a struggle.”
That beating had 14 detectives on the case in Los Angeles.
South Lake Tahoe Police Department can count its detectives on one hand.
Significant differences, though, are South Tahoe police have the advantage of video (which is not being released to the media) and witnesses.
“We are interviewing everyone who was there, reviewing reports, and doing follow-up interviews as needed,” Lt. David Stevenson told Lake Tahoe News on May 25.
A taser was used that night, but not by officers, Stevenson said. “It went off, but it did not hit anybody,” he said.
As of Friday, no one had been arrested. It’s likely attempted murder charges will be filed against at least one person. If Zippy dies, then manslaughter is the presumptive charge.
This whole situation seems too strange and tragic. Neither side is saying anything and the police are taking a long time before they do anything. I hope the man recovers for him and his family and that Mo is ok also.
It is far past time for people who were there to start talking, and telling the truth. I hope that the truth comes out quickly and that this man recovers completely.
Sad, sad, sad. How surprising that the wonderful drug alcohol was involved. Another situation caused by liquid courage.
This was reported last weekend, rather unambiguously (as this report), that “Zippy” got into a fist fight with Mo the owner, whereapon a half dozen or so locals came to Mo’s defense and beat him senseless. Has that story been retracted? My how reporting spin can change things!
Time for some WATER BOARDING!
My prayers and best wishes for a good outcome go out to Zippy and Mo’s families. It is such a sad and tragic story.
I don’t know how helpful the killers at Mo’s Place are being but I know the family has been helpful every step of the way.
They all want the truth to be known. Nobody is excusing Zippy”s actions but he hardly deserved to be beaten to death.
Bouncers are allowed to restrain someone until police arrive and escort people out of a bar when they can’t behave themselves. Not beat them to death. I hope these cowards hang. Five to seven bouncers jumping one man is not doing your job. It’s attempted murder. I pray to God it doesn’t become manslaughter.
liquid couarge? definitly a guy on the outside? when has it every been ok for multiple peoples to punch and kick a guy on the ground with his hands held behind him? deadly force is that force which is known or should be reasonabley known to cause death and or serious bodily harm! thats straight out of the marine corps handbook why are bouncers rat packn a guy like that when they are supposed to be the trained pros?this kid may not make it ? really? mo”s the actions of you and ur crew are ? wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
when has it every been ok for multiple peoples to punch and kick a guy on the ground with his hands held behind him?
MOST POLICE STATIONS,CASINO BACKROOMS,
BORDER CHECK POINTS, IN CASE YOU DON’T GET AROUND SEE THE TRUTHS OF OUR SOCIETY.
There’s a Lady at one the casinos here in town, who son was beat to death while leaving a 49ers game because he had the wrong jersey on,under the age 20.
IT’S OUT THERE EVERYDAY, THIS JUST HAPPEN TO HAPPEN HERE IN TOWN.
lAST MEDIA,COURT THING AROUND HERE WAS THE HARRAH’S KID WHO PULLED A KNIEF STUCK THE SECURITY GUARD,BECAUSE UNNESSARY FORCE FROM THEIR BOUNCERS,THE COURT,JURY, LET HIM GO, FOUND HIM NOT GUILTY.WENT FROM ASSAULT WITH A DEATHLY WEAPON TO SELF PROTECTION.
Zippy is off the breathing machine and breathing on his own…. as for the bbq it was a huge turnout and lots of love…….. even if zippy punched moe for him not giving zippy back his credit card when asked to leave , when is it ok to beat,stomp,and kick someone to death as a group…. these people were so lucky I wasnt there that nite….I Hope one day to be in tahoe havin a drink at Zippy’s
MARINE CORPS COMMON SKILLS (MCCS) – HANDBOOK
BOOK 1A – ALL MARINES INDIVIDUAL TRAINING STANDARDS
MCCS.09.05 – EXPLAIN DEADLY FORCE – 1-9-11
“The efforts of an individual used against another to cause death, substantial risk of death, or serious bodily harm.”
I’m acquainted with an individual who was present at Mo’s on the evening this beating occurred and who witnessed the entire event. From what I was told there is no doubt that deadly force was used on an individual who was jumped by Mo’s “security staff” and some of the patrons, and then beaten while being restrained and even past consciousness. This was a pack mentality, animalistic feeding frenzy.
Mo as the owner of this establishment has a responsibility of employing trained professionals and not thugs. While he may not be subject to criminal charges for his staff’s actions he likely will be subject to civil charges.
I apologize to Zippy and his family for the unacceptable conduct and behavior enacted on him and wish Zippy a complete and speedy recovery. Please know that not everyone in South Lake Tahoe is of the mindset as those individuals who perpetrated this act. Our community is predominantly comprised of very good people.
I have known Zippy’s family over 20 some yrs. Our son’s played base ball together.. This is such a loving & wonderful family you will ever meet!! I just cant understand when Zippy was face down on the floor WHY in the HELL did these Bouncers not let anyone start CPR…Or even check on him..Im sur someone was checking on the owner of the bar!!!We all have at one time or another been loud when having fun and few drinks!! I think all the VIDEO”S should be posted for all to see the truth!!!! What are they trying to hide??? The real TRUTH NEEDS TO BE SHOWN!!!!!!
My family, all I know are praying for your family.Positive energy to you and yours!!AND REMEMBER…….ITS TIME TO GET RUGGED AND REST WHEN YOU CAN. Im at your service.
I went to school with Zippy and I know some of his family. He is one of the nicest people I know. I have never seen him get out of hand or crazy at parties or the bar. I’m not saying something didn’t go down in S. Lake Tahoe but when I heard about this I just could believe it. Get well soon zippy. We love you.
Regardless of what happened in the fight on Sat night or what the video shows weather it was bouncers or just people sticking up for Mo, The severity of what Zippy had to endure should never be wished upon by anyone nor should people try to make it out like it isn’t a big deal…..The poor kid is hanging on by a thread and his parents could lose their son! What happened to Mo is very unfortunate but like the article said he was expected in this weekend meaning he is just fine living his life how he did previously with minor injuries while zippy remains in a coma. I just hope that even those closest to Mo are praying for Zippy and his recovery because it just as easily could have been you, or your son, maybe not in Mo’s bar but in anyone else’s!
Yeah, Zippys a big sweetie who can’t handle his booze and paid a steep price. Did he deserve that kind of beating? No way. But it sounds like he brought that on himself. When you act like a thug, bad outcomes can happen. Ask Oscar Grant.
‘because it just as easily could have been you, or your son, maybe not in Mo’s bar but in anyone else’s!’
*Anyone who is dumb enough to throw the first punch in that situation.
I have been talking to people, most of them agree that if it was a sucker punch scenario, the result will be a completely out of control situation. People who wouldn’t usually do anything would react, people who would react, would be even more aggressive.
No punch thrown at Mo, nothing would have happened. That doesn’t excuse the savagery that followed, but everyone needs to acknowledge that Zippy might have started it.
Zippy was not “Acting like a thug” When Zippy drinks he has a habbit of taking his shirt off. He was asked to leave and did. His girlfriend was trying to close out her tab and Zippy walked back in to get her. Moe had some words, Zippy threw a punch, then was killed by 5 or 6 bouncers and brought back to life by EMT’s. Zippy should not have gone back in and he definately should not have thrown a punch. That having been said, 5 or 6 six bouncers beating a man to death is stupid!!! If one bouncer would have thrown a punch or two and held him down while the police were called, everything would have been fine, that is what Zippy deserved and nothing more. it’s unethical among other things. Everyone will have their own opinion, especially if they do not know the whole story however, videos do not to be posted as was suggested above. One, the police have those videos. Two, as a human being, and more so as Zippy’s friend, I do not want to watch him beaten to death. Again, while Zippy’s actions were not warranted, Moe’s staff are beyond in the wrong. Karma will get them and in the mean time instead of gossiping about what everyone thinks may have happened, let’s all hope and pray that a very good man doesn’t die a second time from these injuries. As was mentioned earlier he is now breathing on his own but, still has yet to awake from his coma.
@Tahoe Johnny. I don’t care who you are or what you’ve done. No one deserves a horrific beating like that. I don’t care if you’re drunk. Isn’t that why drunk tanks and county jails exist? To say he brought it on himself makes you sound just as bad as the people who did this. Zippy will pull through this and return home to a loving community that would do anything for him.
Maybe Zip was not in the right for what he did, but I feel the biggest question of character, or lack of character is the judgement used by Mo’s bouncers. How many fights have ever taken place at this bar? Mo’s bouncers acted outside of their job’s and need to be punished!! The job of a bouncer is to stop fighting and wait for law enforcement to do their job. Just because Mo was the other individual in the fight does not give the right for anyone of his bouncers to act as classless as they did. If this fight were to be between two randon people in the bar would they have joined in on the fight and beat both individual’s to death, or would they have done their job and broke up the fight and restrained both parties! Even after they did what they did to Zip, they had to know that they were looking at someone who had no fight in them and was laying there to die. This shows their true character to not even help someone who is unresponsive! Did they choose to not help someone just because they were the direct reason for this outcome? If they found someone else who was unresponsive would they not help them out? I hope they can sleep better at night knowing that they beat someone to death and then did nothing about it! They are to blame for their actions and I hope the people responsible for what they did pay for it.
IT’S SAD IN TODAYS SOCIETY, BUT SOME PEOPLE TRYING TO HELP SOME PERSON IN A MEDICAL SITUATION PACKS OTHER HIDDEN CIVIL ACTION, EVEN IF YOU WANT HELP.
I’VE SEE THIS EVEN AT SKI RESORTS, WHEN A PERSON HITS A TREE OR A BONE STICKING THROUGH THEIR SKI PANTS,CAR WRECKS,FIGHTS,EVERYDAY LIFE THREATING SITUATION.
I’VE KNOW PEOPLE WHO MOVED THE VICTUM IN A PANIC TO HELP, BEEN SUED FOR TOUCHING THEM NOT HAVING THE PROPER MEDICAL TRAINING.THEY TO BECAME A LIBILTY FOR WANTING TO HELP.
YOU NEED TO WAIT FOR THE PROPER TRAINED PROS TO TAKE CARE BUSINESS AND EVEN THEY TO BE ARE SUED FOR MALPRACTICE.
THE BLAME GAME, COURTS, JURYS, INSURANCE, HIGH POWER ATTORNEYS MAKE IT TOUGH TO BE FAIR SOMETIMES.
VERY SAD IN A WORLD THAT IS DESPRATE TO FIND TRUTHS TO OLD PROBLEMS WE ALL HAVE TO FACE ONE DAY OR ANOTHER.
DON’T GET ME WRONG, THERE ARE HEROS AND THEN THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO GOT SCREWED FOR BEING TRULY CONCERNED,NICE.
YOU HAVE TO MAKE THAT CHOICE!
This will make for an interesting case for the El Dorado County’s D.A. Office. We have people saying Zippy threw the first punch,but remember Mo’s liquor lic. comes in Jeapordy because his bartenders continued serving someone who may have been past the legal limit. As far as the Bouncers who beat Zippy to near death, well they along with Mo can be held legally responsible for his injuries. And to Hang ups from way back there are NO Casino Backrooms where perps get beaten up. Remember the Casino’s are all now owned by Corporations who dont like law suits, those things disappeared up here in the late 70′ and very early 80’s I know because I was there. The Security Mgr’s and Supervisors all carried loaded weapons than and dont now. I still own the Smith&Wesson 38 I carried at Caesars Tahoe in the early to mid 80’s.
Bouncers typically have a thug mentality. If Mo had hired professional security who have to be registered with the state and pass training then maybe the end result of this chaos would have been different. I’m not excusing “zippy’s” actions, after all based only on what I read, he started it. Typical out of towner drunk behavior and typical of our society these days. BUT, when you hire “bouncers” you typically get thugs. Good luck Mo, you and your ‘crew’ are going to need it.
Sad story . well Zip is back in ca and moved to a nice place.. He is not going to make it and the fam is preparing for his departure… God bless zippy and his family..
About 5 months later, Zippy passed away on this day.
R.I.P. Zippy. You will always be in our hearts.
SLT PD: Time to make some arrests.
ElDo County DA: Time to start charging people with Voluntary Manslaughter!
There is NO excuse for what happened to Zippy. Everyone understands Zippy’s actions leading up to it weren’t exactly right, but what happened to him as a result is INEXCUSABLE. The people that killed him need to pay for what they did.
Still waiting for some arrest warrents to be served…….
Go to the DoJ or the FBI and ask for a civil rights case. Call the congressman and Senator and light a fire under the local PD’s butt.
Horrible ending and very tragic.