5 people arrested in connection with man’s death in Scottsdale

PHOENIX — Five people were arrested on Wednesday in connection with the death of a man in Scottsdale earlier this month, authorities said.

According to the Scottsdale Police Department, 24-year-old Drew Meneses, 27-year-old Julius Husser, 26-year-old Tony Becker, 23-year-old Mark Whitford and 27-year-old Krista Molina were the individuals taken into custody for the fatal incident.

Police said that Meneses has been booked into Maricopa County Jail and faces a second-degree murder charge.

What led to group being arrested in connection with the Scottsdale death?

On Oct.11, officers responded to the area of Scottsdale Road and First Avenue around 2:15 a.m. for a medical call for service, according to police.

Police said that when officers arrived they found Thomas John (TJ) Pizzitola lying on the sidewalk unconscious.

Officers provided emergency aid and Pizzitola was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was reportedly pronounced dead.

According to police, witnesses said that Pizzitola and two others engaged in a verbal altercation with four men. The altercation allegedly escalated and Pizzitola and the two people with him were physically assaulted.

During the assault, Pizzitola was hit in the head and immediately fell to the ground, police said.

The four men reportedly ran before police arrived.

On Wednesday afternoon, Scottsdale police arrested the suspects after serving search warrants related to the assault in Phoenix, Chandler and Tempe.

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