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Tuxedo-clad men charged in beating outside Boston nightclub

E-mail|Link|Comments () August 21, 2009 08:45 PM

By Milton Valencia, Globe Staff

A 22-year-old man is in critical condition at a Boston hospital this evening after he was allegedly beaten early today by 12 men dressed in red tuxedos who then got into a limousine outside a Back Bay nightclub.

The man, who was not identified, suffered severe head trauma in the incident, which occurred at about 2:25 a.m. outside 33 Restaurant & Lounge on Stanhope Street.

The 12 men are facing charges of assault and battery causing serious bodily injury.

Officer Joe Zanoli, a police spokesman, would not say how the fight happened, whether alcohol was involved, or whether the men knew the victim. The fight remains under investigation, he said.

Police arriving at the scene found the victim, who was then transported to Massachusetts General Hospital.

Witnesses told police that the men responsible for the violence were in a limousine parked nearby. Inside, police found the alleged attackers, clad in red tuxedos. Calls to the nightclub for comment tonight were not returned.

Police identified the men as Ramona Berroa, 28, of Lynn; Ramon LLavona, 38, of Philadelphia; Justin Cooke, 25, of Lynn; Michael Welch, 27, of Lynn; Ruskyn Garcia, 25, of Lynn; Anthony Villaobos, 21, of Revere; Jonathan Fernandez, 23, of Lynn; Johan Garcia, 28, of Lynn; Jose Castros, 22, of Lynn; Miguel Flaquer, 25, of Malden; Jorge Encarnacion, 26, of Lynn; and Jason Benalfew, 26, of Lynn.

The men are being held by Boston police, pending their arraignment Monday.

Police urged anyone with information to contact detectives at 617-343-4470. Those wishing to provide information anonymously may do so by calling CrimeStoppers at 1-800-494-TIPS. They can also text ‘Tip’ to CRIME (27463).

Earlier this evening, police reported that the victim had died, even posting the information on their website. But they said later that he was still alive and the earlier statement had been based on inaccurate information.