I can’t understand why the Santa Ana Police Department has released so little information about the 23-year-old woman (who is named Kim Pham, according to one of our readers) who was attacked while waiting to get into The Crosby. (UPDATE: One of our readers commented that there are now memorial signs at the site of the beating that indicate she has passed away from her injuries and her death has been confirmed by the OC Weekly). The police did admit that the attackers were “a group of five individuals that are only described as three females, two males, all Hispanic between 20 and 25 years of age,” according to ABC News.
So why isn’t the SAPD telling us anything else? Their initial press release about the attack didn’t even note that it happened at The Crosby, a hipster bar/restaurant that is too small to be a nightclub but pretends to be one anyway. All the SAPD noted in their release was the address that the attack happened at.
I have to wonder if the victim of the attack was Asian. A Korean fellow from Irvine was killed a couple years ago after partying at the Proof Bar, which is located not far from The Crosby in Downtown Santa Ana. Are these attacks racially motivated?
And should we have seen this coming? Go to Yelp and you will see that many folks have complained about the lack of seating at The Crosby and the long lines to get in. One commenter on Foursquare summed it up this way, “Don’t go on Saturday nights.” The young lady in question was attacked on a Friday night so that commenter may want to amend his comment.
Other questions I would like to see answered include:
- Why did it reportedly take the police twenty minutes to show up at the crime scene when the SAPD HQ is a few miles away from The Crosby?
- Where were the Downtown Santa Ana security guards that Downtown, Inc. pays for?
- What about the Crosby bouncer who tried to stop the fight, according to video posted by NBC? Why did only one bouncer get involved?
- Why did witnesses supposedly take pictures and video with their cell phones, during the attack, instead of helping the young woman?
- Did the attackers look like gang members?
- Was this the beginning of knockout attacks in Santa Ana?
The victim is on life support, according to comments left on The Crosby’s Facebook page. UPDATE: One of our readers commented that there are now memorial signs at the site of the beating that indicate she has passed away from her injuries.
If you have any information about this attack please contact the Santa Ana Police Department at 714-245-8390. People wishing to remain anonymous can call the Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS or by texting “OCCS” and the tip to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S) from a cellphone.
We were at the Crosby when the incident happened. One of our friends is a doctor and wanted to help the poor girl but the bouncer refused to let him leave the restaurant to help.
Thanks for that report. That quick medical care could have made a difference. If she survives she could have permanent brain damage.
Refused to let him? Push the bouncer out of the way and go help her! What a bunch of weaklings everyone who didn’t help this girl are! I hope the family sues the nightclub! The bouncers couldn’t help the girl but were somehow super human enough to physically prevent a doctor from going to aid her! Okay…
Complete agree!! Everyone who stood and watched are spineless and should be ashamed of themselves!
I am seeing posts on my Instagram reaching out for information from her friends and family, she does appear to be asian
Thanks. That’s more info than what the SAPD has revealed.
I uploaded the image that is going around my Instagram here: http://imgur.com/MItGCfc
My daughter is the same age as this unfortunate young lady. I pray that she will recover.
Her name is Kim Pham, she is Vietnamese.
Thanks Kamila. May she rest in peace. Now it is time for the community and the police to start asking the hard questions – beginning with – was she targeted because of her race?
I believe it was in the family’s best interest that you do not reveal her full name.
They did not contact us. This will be all over the mainstream press by tomorrow. And it was one of our readers who informed us abiut her name.
She was targeted because she was the one that instigated the fight.
She was actually not the one that instigated the fight, the other girl picked the fight first.
I believe that as well.
alex — how do you know she instigated for sure? It seems apparent from witnesses that she accidentally walked the picture these killers were taking. You don’t know if she did anything at all. I’ve been in the situation where I’ve apologized and then tried my humblest to calm a situation and the people are still trying to get violent with me.
All I’m saying is: don’t say stupid things you know nothing about. It’s possible that she did nothing at all except the trivial accident at the start.
It seems like she passed away. I just walked by there and there’s candles and flowers. One of the signs posted says “a life cut too short.” 🙁 A lot of things don’t add up. Was everyone just standing around watching her get beat up? 🙁
That’s terrible! Now the search is on for murderers!
Editor! How did our relationship begin?
About 4 years ago when the young asian guy was killed in the downtown parking lot across the street from there.
What were some of us asking?
why are there no security cameras in that parking garage? and why haven’t there been any installed?
That is what we were asking, and still ask.
The city of Santa Ana has blood on their hands for not making the local public and visiting public safer.
And even worse – many strings were pulled to allow The Crosby to stay open late. The gentrifiers now have blood on their hands.
no strings have to be pulled for some of these property owners to do the right thing and install inexpensive security cameras. UHH HMMM hmm. I will refrain from mentioning property owner names.
What exactly is your beef with gentrification? I don’t get it. There wasn’t anything downtown except dive bars and gang bangers before the gentrification started. You would rather have empty buildings down there? I’m dumbfounded by your hostility towards people intent on making Santa Ana a better place to live.
Better how? And for who? Our Downtown is not family friendly and has become useless for most residents.
And getting rid of bars only to replace them with more bars isn’t progress.
I would much rather have a downtown like the one in Brea, that has entertainment and restaurants that families can enjoy.
Just who do these overpriced hipster eateries and bars serve?
Lastly say what you will about years past but young women weren’t getting their heads kicked in back then.
Have to agree 100% with you. Santa Ana was the first City built in California.You would think being that it was the geographic center point of where it all began and spread outwards to what is now one of the wealthiest states in the world , they go and build more Bars , Clubs ,shaping it into a negative environment . Anyhow I hope it wasn’t a racial incident. I’m mexican and most of my close friends are asian. What I don’t understand is wtf didnt anybody back her up. I probably would of lost my life if I was there cuz I would of helped fight back especially if the victim was a female regardless of ethnicity! Its human instinct to react when a persons life is in danger. To all men and woman who were there , you guys are all guilty and to blame for. Fkn cowards!!!
They serve me and my family for starters. My wife and I spent $400k+ on a cottage in Washington Square last fall, largely because of downtowns vibrant restaurant and art scene. Downtown Breis horrendous, a bland clone of places like the Spectrum or the Tustin Marketplace, no soul or character at all.
Well be careful who you bump into next time you visit DTSA.
Al – West Floral Park, Washington Square and to a lesser extent are filled with people like you and your wife, leaving the bland evirons of Irvine and Mission Viejo for a “charming cottage” and a vibrant downtown. Only o find out months and years later that it’s not so vibrant, not so easy to get mushrooms or parsley (epasote is a snap though), it is nearly impossible to educate the kids in your neighborhood unless you go private.
You think it’s safe until you leave the bubble of Louise Street (or wherever) to find your little experiment in culture isn’t really that fun. But, your not so hip friends will think you are cool.
“Be part of the solution, not the problem”
It’s perfectly fine here, I spend as much time at El Tapatia and Northgate as I do at Chapter 1. Santa Ana will be as expensive and attractive as Old Town Orange. I didn’t spend that much on a house unless I was sure it would be worth twice as much in 20 years.
Santa Ana has the highest property taxes as our residents keep passing bond measures. And we have the highest water and power rates. Our public schools are mostly a mess and crime is growing. There are positives too but the negatives are legion.
All I know is that for the price of a 3rd floor condo in Aliso Viejo, one that came with a $300 HOA fee, I got a detached house with a 6000 yard. My truck was vandalized in the parking lot of my previous apartment in Aliso Viejo, and there was an attempted murder in the parking lot of the Town Center. What ever might be wrong with Santa Ana, I’ll take it, not to live with the pretentious, privileged, plastic-surgeried yuppies of South OC. I’ll take a dollar taqueria any day of the week compared to On The Border or Macaroni Grill. Thanks to the Duolingo App, I learn Spanish on my work breaks.
This could have happened at any bar, restaurant, art gallery anywhere in Downtown.
But public safety is not a priority for the political set and the business set Downtown. Everybody just wants to party. including the tourists, visitors.
Well now they better all wake up!
This is a “vibrant” downtown?
Sounds down right dangerous to me!
I just told my daughter to stay away from there.
Hahaha. She got into a fight. It’s not like she was randomly attacked.
Dumbass,she was attacked by 2 putos and 3 girls..And I’m Chicano,gives us a bad name…
Agree & well said
Big time brotha I agree ,,,, gives us a bad reputation. But lets not forget that there is a big difference between an “ignorant wab ” like Mr.anti cholo with his stuupid comments and there’s mexicans who got mad luv for asian peeps. On behalf of my ethnic race words cannot express my apologies for this tragic loss of life My condolences go out to the family.
Not a fight jumped ATTACKED It took 5 people,,,OMG,,,
She got jumped by 5 people including two grown men.
Your daughter can hang out with me Editor. I will protect her!
FU editor and your hatred for Downtown Santa Ana! It has no place in this story! You are such an evil spirited person. You don’t really care about the deceased young woman, you are excited that something horribly tragic happened Downtown so you can continue your years of bashing what is not going anywhere. Get a red sharpie and color your black schriveled up heart and pretend you give a rip about the victim in the story.
LOL. We promote events in Downtown Santa Ana all the time so you’re barking up the wrong tree. But I’m not letting my kids go there now. Not at night for sure.
Right. Even if you did, you still bash DTSA constantly and you still are horrible. Blame yourself for this tragedy. Makes as much sense as blaming Downtown and Downtown security. You are really a horrible person to try and cash in on a tragic death.
No one here is cashing in but that is an interesting phrase. Aren’t the hipster joints in DTSA cashing in? Well now they are going to have to spend some of that money they have earned on over-priced burgers on actual security measures.
Oh and then there is this – http://newsantaana.com/2014/01/19/the-crosby-needs-to-answer-for-both-public-and-food-safety-issues/
They, the restaurants, have nothing to do with this. You do.
How about this? http://newsantaana.com/2014/01/19/the-crosby-needs-to-answer-for-both-public-and-food-safety-issues/
The editor is trying to hold the city and the businesses responsible for the safety of the public. How is that something to criticize? The victim was in dtsa wanting to get in a bar/restaurant. Even if she had a role in the fight, the establishment should be held accountable for what happened to her and the city should be criticized for their slow response? Is that not a fair expectation?
Addie,
See my comments below. This train was headed off the rails.
Editor is just writing what everyone else is feeling already. Remember we all seek information that promotes our own views. I totally agree with the editor. There is something very inherently wrong with Downtown Santa Ana, and thats because there is a lack of security cameras coupled with unqualified security personnel. An Asian guy by the name of Jeffrey Lee Chung was killed a year ago by a Latino guy. This girl will be the 2nd person murdered. Both asian with Latino attackers. See a pattern?
2 incidents would not be enough to draw any sort of conclusion regarding a pattern of racial violence. Fights will happen regardless of race or location. Or cameras for that matter.
Two terrible deaths in 3 years, both involving Asians, is indeed a trend.
On one of the video’s you can clearly hear the attackers calling her a “GOOK”. as they kicked her to death. How is that not a hate crime.
Where is Greg Diamond?
You claim he spews hatred, yet you hide behind a computer with the guise of “anonymous” trying to call him out for not genuinely caring.
How does an establishment that is going on six years that regularly gets filled maximum capacity not have adequate security or video cameras to prevent and deter incidents like these?
Why doesn’t the mayor come out and speak about this incident or the chief of police
The Mayor? What about the Council Member who represents Downtown Santa Ana? Where is Michele Martinez?
Where is Michele Martinez? probably at Original Mike’s.
Apparently doesn’t want to upset her Hispanic voters, considering the attackers were also Hispanic.
Can’t take no fault for the mayors failures….and for what he gets paid…
He is a part time Mayor. And the Council Members actually make more than he does as they have hogged up all the commission appointments.
Sure he ought to step up and say something but my point is so should the Council. And where is that overpaid City Manager who is now pulling down $800K a year in pay and pension benefits?
http://capoliticalnews.com/2013/12/03/another-round-of-corruption-charges-hits-santa-ana-democrats/
Yes. That Councilwoman Martinez.
I knew her personally, She was a college student on her way to graduating at Chapman University, She was dog lover, a humanist, and a very caring person. In the 10 years that I have known her, I have never seen her start a fight. She is a sweet caring person. But she was not liked by many other girls due to jealousy probably. Just before her death, she posted a rant about how outraged she was by the Kelly Thomas Verdict, and coincidentally she suffered the same fate as him.
Thank you for sharing wonderful qualities of Kim. So little written about her to celebrate her life and positive contributions to this society lacking people with grace, heart, compassion and basic courtesy and kindness. Seems Kim was only collateral damage. This comment is made not to detract from her importance, rather to highlight that the attackers are cruel, angry, vicious and pure evil hatred. If not Kim,someone else for sure if not already. Thank you Kim for having been here and leaving your positive mark. I hope your organ donations saves more lives to spread love in this world. Prayers for your family sweet angel. You are now home.
This kind of shit goes right along with the f*cking idiot mentality that places like the Crosby attracts on the weekends (And other places in DTSA). Don’t worry, America breeds all kinds of idiotic sociotards from all kinds of different cultures, so if it had not happened at the Crosby, these f*cktards would have found some other douche bag joint to commit their acts of (worse than mental retardation, worse by a long shot) mindless outrage. It was probably over something like rival football teams, or disagreement about something irrelevant and menial without a doubt. Racially motivated at the heart of the act indeed, maybe the bitch was jealous of her nice high heels. But can you imagine the down right stupid conversations that the perpetrators are engaged in on a daily basis? Eat your heart out Original Mikes! You think those Cholo idiots, those Number 8 Tattoo wearing closet Fagots and rapists, and those mindless f*ck wads that attend your place are low of IQ? 5 people just beat a 23 year old woman to death?! Can you imagine the incident: “WHAT DID YOU SAY TO ME?! WHAT THE F*CK DID YOU SAY, BITCH?!” Oh my God! Your “education dollars” hard at work!
Oh yeah, where was the Crosby security again? Who just sat there and watched a girl get her ass handed to her like this? Something very fishy about this story on many levels.
Some years ago (6 or 7 years ago) a Vietnamese artist friend of mine and myself were walking to the DT area, a car drove by us on 1st street and a local SA girl leaned out the window and yelled “Go back to Irvine!!” At first I thought they were yelling at me and it pissed me off something fierce. I came to find out that there is major static between Latinos and Asians around here, that bitch was yelling at my Asian friend. With all that said, maybe I’ll just go back to Utah and become part of the white supremacists Mormon church.
Ease up theo. We get that you’re angry but you don’t know all the facts so don’t be so quick to judge or over-generalize. A real tragedy occurred here and your grandstanding is in bad taste. We should focus our energy on helping the family (if you can) and promptly putting these 5 individuals in a prison cell where they belong.
Sounds about right to me Theo.
Bad place, bad people, bad governance.
Now that the PAYANMEX “angels” got run out whose gonna protect DTSA?
http://www.helpmyfriendkim.myevent.com/?1390177803
posting health code violations? and this has what to do with the murder of this young lady? sounds like you have a personal beef with the crosby and no real concern for the young lady. so when was it exactly that you were kicked out off the crosby?
If the Crosby’s owners don’t care about food safety they probably don’t care about safety in general.
Many members of the mainstream media read thus blog. I’m sure that they will want to know why a hipster eatery that charges so much for their food has such an awful health record.
Editor, I don’t know how safe the food is there. However you are correct.
over-priced!
They made a terrible decision to go all “culinary” for the Riviera Magazine – South Coast set.
Last time I ate there, my date and I tried to share the $13.00 or $15:00 “small portion” entree. it turned out to be 8 chunks of Gnocchi with a leave of basil. chicken feed!*
These decisions do in deed make people want to go back to Denny’s.
We know so little because those of us that watched it from a vantage point just don’t want to help the cops or the gentrifying of the neighborhood. And there are no flowers because this isn’t her community. Had the Latina gone down, it would be flooded with flowers and candles.
There is a big memorial set up. Pictures at http://blogs.ocweekly.com/navelgazing/2014/01/crosby_santa_ana_murder.php
Looks like your comment just got owned Anonymous poster. What the heck do you know at all besides running your mouth. And those of you who don’t want to ‘help the cops’ in this case are scum, considering the circumstances in question.
Maybe we don’t know a lot about what happened to protect the family and friends who know her?
No it looks to me like an attempt at damage control for the hipster bars in downtown Santa Ana.
I did see other bouncers were trying to keep other people from getting involved.
Actully, there was an alteraction amogst the two groups, the you lady did say something to the other group. Then the fight started. i was not there but friends were. Security like in most area (NOT JUST DOWNTOWN SANTA ANA) only have one security at the door. This was an isolated incident and should not be marked as the typical night out in the area. This can happen anywhere.
We follow crime stories very closely. Both the SAPD and the OC Sheriff’s Department as well as the OCDA send us their press releases on a regular basis. I can’t recall another attack like this happening anywhere in Orange County except for the Kelly Thomas murder in Fullerton. This is not routine or typical in our opinion.
Downtown Huntington Beach is a bit more notorious for fights than DTSA. Despite Santa Ana’s rep regarding gang activity, it’s quite mellow compared to other cities. I’ve just moved to SA, and besides a few gun shots, HB seems to attract more people with a propensity for violence than what I’ve seen here.
Except for the fact that the women in Huntington Beach don’t kick and stomp other women to death.
In other OC communities, it’s the cops who gang up and beat people to death…and get away with it.
Pick your poison but Fullerton made the same mistake as Santa Ana. They decided to turn their downtown over to the drunks. And Kelly Thomas died after a bar called 911 and falsely accused him of stealing…the cops as you know showed up and beat him to death.
I am sure they were doing it for your proctection.
I cant believe this editor. I clicked on the link to learn more educated information on the case; sadly,I’ve just become more irritated with the comments I am reading from you. I grew up in santa ana Ive lived in the area. I would hang out there with my family are YOU SERIOUSLY going to tell me its not safer now then before. I had FAMILY AND FRIENDS who DIED in the 90’s because of so much gang activitiy. You could not hang out in DTSA without fear of being mugged. That fact that this incident has been one of few to the area in years should say a lot. And you trully have exploited the death of this young women to bash an area that is full of life. Times have changed sir, and as part of the “hipster” crowd from the area, you can glady move away. Negitivity like your in not needed, nor respected. Shame on you for bashing your own community.
Did you know that the artists at the Santora are also calling for more security in Downtown Santa Ana?
I have lived here for over 25 years and I’m not letting my kids hang out in Downtown Santa Ana until I see substantial safety improvements.
I frequent downtown, I was there friday and was the day of the first murder in the parking structure. The security guys patrolling don’t get involve in anything. Also I hate the fact that someone of you have the idea that it was because she was Asian? And the first person murder was also Asian? There’s no pattern whatsoever. I go to downtown fridays and I’d say at least 70% of the people that attend are asian. Saturday I’d say 80% of people that attend downtown are Hispanics. Simply because Asians frequent fridays and of course there’s more probability if something happens its going to be asians. Not trying to be racist just simply saying the facts. It sucks to hear someone gets murdered the place I like to hang out. I hope they do catch whom ever committed such act. The santa ana police is useless though.
Also did she have any friends around when this happened? If so why did they not help her? All this is really weird to me it was also close enough that the crosby security guard would have seen and helped.
There’s something missing in this story, I wonder what the argument was about that started the fight…
Anyways just my .2 cents.
May she rest in peace
Thanks for your comments. Yes there is still so much that we just don’t know.
I am a frequent patron of the Crosby since it has opened about 5 years ago. Since then, the Crosby has played a huge role in revitalizing the downtown Santa Ana area. The people behind this establishment are the most respectful and down to earth human beings I know. They have built this place from the ground up with their own blood sweat and tears almost killing themselves while doing so, and has become a second home for some people. A situation like this has NEVER happened there. EVER.
Security WAS there (if you watch the footage of the video), other people were there, there is no one to blame but the people actually involved, the gang of guys and girls that walked away free. The Crosby is doing everything they can to help bring justice to the situation. It all happened so fast, trying to find out the full story, so soon after is near impossible. NEWSANTAANA.COM is not a credible news source and anonymous comments are just hearsay . What happened was not right, and it’s only natural to want to put blame on someone or something. If every bar could control every patron this would never be a problem. People need to take responsibility for their OWN actions. We should be populating this thread with positive comments about trying to help find the people directly involved instead of point fingers.
There is no need to disparage this blog. We have been covering what happens here in Santa Ana since 2009. When mainstream reporters want to know what is going on they calk us!
I don’t blame our readers for commenting anonymously given how vindictive the downtown gentrifiers are.
As for your pals at the Crosby why don’t you ask them about all those health violations? That mess is all on them!
how does health violations pertain to the situation at hand?
like that person ^^ said “We should be populating this thread with positive comments about trying to help find the people directly involved instead of point fingers.”
sounds like you have a vendetta against the crosby. Sad man. You should be focusing your energy elsewhere… maybe somewhere more useful to make a positive change in the community.
“peace can not be achieved through violence, it can only be attained through understanding”- Ralph waldo emerson
It sounds like you don’t care much about public safety.
its sounds like you are finding anything and everything to put blame on the crosby. The crosby has helped clean up the downtown santa ana area! its ridiculous that you are putting blame on an business that is fighting for the same thing you are! a better/safer/cleaner santa ana/
the health code violations were not due to bad food being served… no one was harmed no patrons were harmed… NOTHING… they didnt even close down during business hours because it was something that was a PRECAUTIONARY measure to be taken to ensure that health codes were up to par!
please stop ASSuming because its only making an ASS out of you and me (only because i am taking the time out to respond to your ignorance)
So the Crosby is cleaning up Santa Ana even though they can’t keep their own place clean?
anonymous.
Perhaps if you used your REAL name (Chase, Benavides, Martinez, Lomeli, NISCO, ALFARO etc…) whatever it is you would have a little bit of CREDABILITY. You repeatedly cite anonymous comments yet you can’t even use your own name.
The reality is, is this: NISCO, ALFARO,YAMAOKA and their untrained, underpaid staff let a young woman DIE at their facility/business. Why did these bouncers not act. If these soft rules are what the city requires in achieving a booze license, we now know why the FBI is investigating the city government!
POSITIVE COMMENTS? What planet do you live on?
The owner(s) of the CROSBY let this girl die. Plain and simple.
Dear Francisco Puelise,
my name is JEANETTE SAWYER and i am responsible for the comments left at 2:23 and 2:56 in the thread above. hopefully this gives ‘credibility’ to the opinions stated above. I am not an owner of the crosby, and its ridiculous to assume that the above comments are from them! I’m almost positive they are dealing with matters larger than this and the need to want to defend themselves on a blog, that in the past has been notorious for bashing their establishment, is NOT a top priority. People are defending the Crosby because those three gentlemen are GOOD people. They have built this place from the ground up with the intention to create a community in downtown santa ana that attracts artist, musicans, foodies, etc. Their employes are not underpaid or undertrained. Most of them have been working there for years… some since it has opened! that has to say something about how they are as owners. They have made this their second home. It is my second home. Why would ANYONE want something like this to happen on the doorsteps of their home?
They hire out their security through a legit security agency that multiple Orange county venues use. The fight was between two groups that never entered the Crosby. I know, i was there inside on friday. It is not a rational conclusion to expect an establishment to take on the responsibility of a situation that could not have been prevented by the already provided protection of having on sight security, they had nothing to do with the harmful situation. It was a fight, putting the blame on the bar is like saying we should blame the freeways and the people who construct the roads for fatal accidents. The people involved in the fight are to blame. We should all take this a as a reflection on how our actions/and words can be fatal and promote peace by not perpetuating hate about an incident that there is very little information. This could have happened infront of proof bar, memphis, lola gaspare…. anywhere.
So yes positive comments to help the situation at hand move in a forward direction is where, I feel, the discussions should go. Not to sit here and point fingers and go on rants that just fuel the fire that will lead to nowhere good.
Ms. Sawyer,
You are obviously close to this situation and the management of the Crosby (which I have patronized). But, you sre increfibly biased. Almost blind to Pancho’s (Puliese) comments.
First, it eas a MURDER not a fight.
Second, as Seamus McDuff opined, the downtown is becoming (or has become) a haven for drunken visitors. Very few Santa Ana families go to these high priced bars. They poorly represent Santa Ana.
Further, the owners BETTER NOT have better thing to do than rally around a Murdered patron. After they wash Phams blood off their hands,they should consider paying better attention to the community.
Lastly, the Crosby did not “turn DTSA.” Million dollar develepors who whored out the council did.
We (citizens) warned this was going to happen. They were right. Just like the guy who blew the whistle on PAYAN – MEX and the lack of insurance. Cavasos took one look at that and made them move to a stadium. Where they belong. Hopefully he puts his foot down here and send cops and code inspectors into the Crosby.
PAYAN-MEX put people at risk of twisting a knee or breaking a wrist. The Crosby puts you at risk of being POISIONED or KICKED TO DEATH.
OC Register just posted raw video of the fight and it’s claiming that the girl is still on life support.
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/woman-598073-bertagna-police.html
The Register also just laid off 32 people and they are selling their headquarters. So take anything they report with care.
The OC Weekly reported that she died. I trust them a lot more than I trust the Register.
Here is the video link:http://m.ocregister.com/video/v/3081842734001/video/
Better link. It’s on YouTube now.
There is a problem in with security in DTSA as well as the SAPD. I while back I visited Proof and on my way out was attacked by a male. Luckily my I was with my boyfriend who stepped in to protect me although shortly after the idiots friends jumped in and continued the attack. Throughout the whole incident no security members stepped in even after they watched as a Female got punched in the face by a guy twice her size. Only 2 bystanders stepped in to help in stopping the attack. Thanks to those guys that stepped in and called police of course after hearing that cops were coming those cowards stormed off. After arriving SAPD did nothing even after I pointed out the individuals involved. They just turned around and responded that I too would be charged if I pressed charge. I had to go to the ER afterwards due to the injuries I was left with. This all could have been stopped almost immediately had security stepped in, instead of watching.
This is so sad,,to take someones life,,,Lord have mercy, your just a bunch of heartless haters,,I feel for this family,,this was someones daughter,sister,cousin,friend,niece grandaughter,Auntie,,she was human she had feelings,,how could you heartless people just keep.beating on her and to top it off 2 males 3 females ,1 person couldn’t od been enough,, I pray Gods vengeance over you, I hope you lose sleep over this and never get a peace of mind,,,I am so angry this is just so wrong,,,,,,
This is so sad,,to take someones life,,,Lord have mercy, your just a bunch of heartless haters,,I feel for this family,,this was someones daughter,sister,cousin,friend,niece grandaughter,Auntie,,she was human she had feelings,,how could you heartless people just keep.beating on her and to top it off 2 males 3 females ,1 person couldn’t of been enough,, I pray Gods vengeance over you, I hope you lose sleep over this and never get a peace of mind,,,I am so angry this is just so wrong,,,,,,
CROSSPOSTED FROM EARLIER THREAD:
NOYB-
What in the world are you taking about?
People have been discussing the gentrification of downtown Santa Ana on this site from the beginning.
Many posters predicted (fearfully) that this is exactly what was going to happen to the downtown community. Young adults fueled up on booze, testosterone (or estrogen!) and drugs would destroy it. While the out of town business and property owners RAPE the area of character, financial independence and basic services take their profits back to Newport Beach, Villa Park and areas beyond, WE, the residents are left to mop up the vomit, urine and now blood.
If the management of the Crosby was the LEAST BIT interested in anything but their reputation and PROFIT$, their staff would have stopped this, or at least called in the police.
The government will do NOTHING because these same business owners lined the pockets of the city council. Meanwhile people like you criticize from us when we question “ALL NIGHT” liquor service and granting MORE liquor licenses.
The fact that this could become a RACE issue very quickly is even scarier, it is being reported that the attackers used racial slurs while kicking this young lady to death.
Is this what we get when taxpayers send elected officials to NALEAO conferences instead of good government conferences? That is a fair and honest question.
The city council owns this.
She was my cousin. And I never had the chance to meet her. This is devastating news for our family. R.I.P Kim.
We are so sorry for your loss. I hope her killers are caught soon so they can face justice.
Thank you. The amount of kind words our family have been receiving has really had a positive effect during this time of grieving. We are glad there is such a large amount of support and awareness being spread worldwide.
May God bless your family in this dark time. Many people are praying for your family! I hope that the killers will all face justice soon.
My understanding and expectations of a security officer/guard is to protect the establishment that hired them, and not the individuals outside in the public domain. If the fight was inside The Cosby, it should be expected that the fight would be broken up by security. Fighting outside on public sidewalks is now in the jurisdiction of the city police. And of course we all understand that city police cannot patrol every square meter of city at all times. This crime was unfortunate, it happened fast, and no one has been caught, making the public respond even stronger to calls of safety reform. People are pissed off and are looking for answers. There’s always more preventable measures a business can take to reduce violence in and around their establishments. In The Crosby’s case, perhaps this is the first serious altercation to occur outside their doors. Maybe moving forward, there will now be 2 guards and maybe a camera or two filming at all times.
How sad that this organization chooses to take a womans death to show racism without any substance to support. Furthermore, there are security cameras in the downtown put up by merchants and property owners. The City does not.
It’s amazing how this editor makes these comments/questions. 1) How do you know it took police 20 minutes to get there? Is this an official statement or you “heard.” 2) What does the proximity of the police department have to do with anything? Your logic would make it ok if police took a long time to respond to a call on the outskirts of the city, like say Bristol/Sunflower or EUclid/Edinger because that’s real far away. So the closer you are to a police department the faster your response time should be? 3) HOw does a gang member look? Shaved head, several tattoos, goatee, baggy clothes? FYI, most gang members dress different so they can blend in and not be denied entrance into the bar/club. 4) talking about a death of a young female and unsanitary food conditions at the same time. Wow!
I don’t know how many times I have to repeat myself but the Crosby’s awful health record is indicative that they don’t care about the public. That is a salient point given what is coming out about this murder.
Fair enough. I agree, this place sucks and they don’t care about the public. So, can you respond to my 1-3 comments? Or does your silence on these matters say everything? Myself and many more readers that are on the fence about your credibility are waiting?
There are a lot if comments on this post. What is it you want to know?
1) How do you know it took police 20 minutes to get there? Is this an official statement or you “heard.”
2) What does the proximity of the police department have to do with anything? Your logic would make it ok if police took a long time to respond to a call on the outskirts of the city, like say Bristol/Sunflower or EUclid/Edinger because that’s real far away. So the closer you are to a police department the faster your response time should be?
3) HOw does a gang member look? Shaved head, several tattoos, goatee, baggy clothes?
You suggested the above issues. So I’m asking for clarification. I numbered them for you. 1-3. I pasted the above questions again that I responded to in your article
I appreciate your response
I estimated the police response time based on media reports as to when the incident occurred and when they showed up. A good question to ask is who called the police? Also did the Crosby’s employees delay calling the police?
Yes. Of course the police should respond faster when their HQ is close to a crime.
Gang members typically have short hair or have shaven heads. Apparel can vary. Tatoos are common. But we don’t know yet if these attackers were gang members.
I’m actually half asian and half latino. What the fuck is gonna happen to me then? People need to stop being racist. I love both cultures. Actual Mexicans from Mexico are NOT cholos. They work hard to stay in the country (the legal ones), and their kids end up acting like thugs thinking they own the streets. It’s ridiculous. It brings shame to the Mexican heritage, it brings shame to their families, it brings shame to the whole race. Today I am not proud to be any race. I can only be happy with being human.
There’s a lot of Asian gangs in Santa Ana with the same mentality as these Mexican gangs that your describing. More information will come out about this case in the future. The victim could have had Asian gang affiliations herself, however there is no excuse for those people to have beaten her to death. My prayers go out to the victims family.
She was not in a gang. She just graduated from college and she has written books. Hello. Don’t assume, she is the sweetest, caring person who loves to help people. Hope they arrest those attackers and sentence them lifetime with no parole and no bail.
Hope they can never sleep at night for their evil acts to Kim.
Hope, that the attackers trial is televised.
Wtf is wrong with mexicans??? Come on… why act like animals. The new generation of mexicans are just worthless. poor parents.
More than half of the stupid ignorant shit posted here is a dam joke! Racist ass, ignorant, idiots !!!
Ray, you sound like a racist! And like all racists extremely ignorant.
I read about this story on a UK website. I am frankly quite upset with mainstream national news that takes absolutely no interest in the extreme violence that is taking place all over this country. It really is starting to seem as if they want this to continue, to allow our society to gradually degrade, for whatever reason is up for speculation.
This story infuriates me. Especially because I know exactly what kind of uneducated filth perpetrated this crime. I have some of that same stupidity in my own family. Remember the big gang problem throughout Los Angeles in the 90s? They all grew up only to raise the next cycle. And with this whole generation of entitled brats, it infuriates me to think about what went on on that sidewalk Friday night. Lets be honest, reflective of this culture, the people standing outside the club got a huge kick out of watching the violence unfold on the street. I’ve never witnessed this violence, but I have seen this level of stupidity first hand. In fact, I help out my own family members, only to hear months later that they’ve gone back to other family members and have talked bad about me. After researching this story, I’m glad I have a German last name. I’m only a few cities north of you guys, so I know LA and its beloved community. Theres no discipline, no sense of advancing, just getting by. The fact that news outlets remain politically correct and sympathetic about the perpetrators is ridiculous. I am going into the military soon, as an officer, but I’ve recently begun to question exactly what it is I have convinced myself is worth protecting here. This is the society who’s freedoms I am protecting? I’m risking my life so that this injustice can occur? I am just appalled right now. The only reason I’m commenting here is because it hits close to home. You can come up with countless instances like this just in the last year of people acting out this way against innocent people. Kim Pham looks like a beautiful, intelligent woman who I would have asked out on a date in a heartbeat. Not this trash that did this to her. This world is sick. The cup has runneth over. How can Americans honestly look at the state of our society and think we are better than anybody else? If we heard these stories continually come out of another country, we would have a horrid and atrocious view of that nation. How should we not expect the same? And unfortunately, in order for any realistic possibility to exist for things to get better, the said reality is things are going to get much much worse. I feel so paralyzed being a decent, intelligent, hard working person, yet understanding that idealism is simply naive and cannot be your rhetoric if you wish to survive and maintain a decent life.
Well said man!
Your not going to the service to protect my freedom, your going to protect the interests of the likes of Goldman sacs jpmorgan and HBerton and the for profit companies that profit from war.
Did she go to the nightclub alone? Where were her friends?
I’ve been asking the same thing. Where were her friends? Sure she was in line with her friends when they started to argue with another group of people. Those Hispanic are responsible for Kim Pham. But her friends are the most coward. If I knew Kim’s friends, I would slap them. Friends dont let friend get beaten til death. Those people who’ve hurt Kim & those her friends that went with her will live with regret for the rest of their lives, and karma’s a bytch!
Well, I thought she was meeting her friends inside the nightclub. There were enough people waiting outside the club that could have helped her. However, people didn’t want to get involved, because they weren’t sure if the attackers had guns.
Dear Francisco Puelise,
my name is JEANETTE SAWYER and i am responsible for the comments left at 2:23 and 2:56 in the thread above. hopefully this gives ‘credibility’ to the opinions stated above. I am not an owner of the crosby, and its ridiculous to assume that the above comments are from them! I’m almost positive they are dealing with matters larger than this and the need to want to defend themselves on a blog, that in the past has been notorious for bashing their establishment, is NOT a top priority. People are defending the Crosby because those three gentlemen are GOOD people. They have built this place from the ground up with the intention to create a community in downtown santa ana that attracts artist, musicans, foodies, etc. Their employes are not underpaid or undertrained. Most of them have been working there for years… some since it has opened! that has to say something about how they are as owners. They have made this their second home. It is my second home. Why would ANYONE want something like this to happen on the doorsteps of their home?
They hire out their security through a legit security agency that multiple Orange county venues use. The fight was between two groups that never entered the Crosby. I know, i was there inside on friday. It is not a rational conclusion to expect an establishment to take on the responsibility of a situation that could not have been prevented by the already provided protection of having on sight security, they had nothing to do with the harmful situation. It was a fight, putting the blame on the bar is like saying we should blame the freeways and the people who construct the roads for fatal accidents. The people involved in the fight are to blame. We should all take this a as a reflection on how our actions/and words can be fatal and promote peace by not perpetuating hate about an incident that there is very little information. This could have happened infront of proof bar, memphis, lola gaspare…. anywhere.
So yes positive comments to help the situation at hand move in a forward direction is where, I feel, the discussions should go. Not to sit here and point fingers and go on rants that just fuel the fire that will lead to nowhere good.
I’m sorry, 1 girl that’s 5 feet 2 inches against 5 people isn’t not a fight. She was murdered. You can see the security slow moving in the video. He could have helped more.
it wasnt 1 vs 5. it was crew vs. crew
Karma is coming for the people who stood there videotaping and did nothing to help this poor girl. They disgust me as much as the group who did the actual killing. I carry pepper spray and a large locking blade knife in my purse at all times! I would have helped her!
ADAM, ADAM where are you? Did papa Joe Dunn and the Amezcua tell you not to write about this? Funny, you fire up everyone over a FALSE charge against Pulido’s kids, you exploit the poor kid who slammed into Jill Aurthor, but, HATE CRIME and murder, a block from the VOC…
CRICKETS.
Orange County = just yuck. Just went down to visit my family for the holidays. I forgot how much that place sucks. Some people may say that the wealthier areas aren’t as bad, but they are in terms of the sheer waste of life happening down there. Went to Knott’s Berry Farm. Guy standing in line in front of us with his wife and kids with a knife tucked in the back of his pants. No security pat downs at that park. Parents swearing and carrying on in front of children. Just horrible. I’m not saying there are better places, I’m just saying OC is the worst.
you weren’t there so don’t priest how you would have done things differently. Everything was chaotic.
Totally agree with rain on! Everyone who watched and didn’t help are spineless! They should be ashamed!
I hate Mexicans, a bunch of uneducated murderers! Always them in the news killing people!!
I think that Vanessa Tapia Zavala’s trail should be televised.
Anon, I think you selectively ignore crime news, since white people make up almost 100% of American serial killers, school shooters, cannibals, movie theater killers, federal building bombers, lynch mobs, church burners and face eaters. Always them in the news killing people!!
If you hate Mexicans, you should pack up and leave California. Obviously you don’t realize how many Californians are mexican or of mexican decent. CLUE… A lot more than you think. Learn your history!
Including the editor of this blog…
Why no info about the 25 year old gangsta mother that is out all night but no doubt abuses the welfare system and dumps her kid off duhhhhh no wonder this chuibby cholos mutt was jealous enough to bash a stranger in the skull… disgusting1
SHOW AMERICA THE REAL DREAM ACT = WELFARE MOTHER OUT FIGHTING LOCO-TARDIC
I understand she was at the Crosby with a group of girl-friends waiting to get in. Why did her group of friends not attempt to step in to stop the savage beating? Was it because they were female? Was it because they were in high-heels, or did not want to rip their mini skirts? Its kind of weird that people are asking why strangers did not want to step in to help, when the real question should be why her very own friends did nothing to stop the beating.
Perhaps they were afraid?
It is actually reported that her friends were all fighting in the ‘melee’. Chances are, she was separated from from her friends when she was stomped on by the 5 people, as described by eye-witnesses. Why don’t you read up a little about this before you make lame implications with such disgustingly biased undertones.