Man beaten to death after playing "Margaritaville" on bar's jukebox

Story is from Steamboat Springs, Colo., where an Army sergeant got into a fatal fight after he played the Buffett standard on the jukebox.

UPDATED: The Rocky has more details here. Apparently, the sergeant slipped on ice before he got beat up.

Wes Mottlau told her that the trouble started when Lopez and the Mottlaus played a Jimmy Buffett song on the jukebox.

"These other two guys didn't like the song and were giving them a hard time," Boahn said. "They put on a Kanye West song, and Richard, Wes and Tim were razzing them about the Kanye West song."

Hat Tip: Many thanks, Goshel!

Comments

[jocosob]

Im sick of that song too

[winkyb2me]

Some people are fanatical haters of Buffett. A few years ago, my house was broken into. Every one of my CDs (including the Sisters of St. Mary's Christmas CD) was stolen. Jimmy Buffet was the sole CD, left in the middle of the tower. I think they were trying to say something.

[Searching]

I love that song.. it is the ultimate in escapism...

[D-man]

I think playing "cheeseburger in paradise" is a crime. And eating at the restaurant which shares it's name should be the punishment.

[JUNGLE JIM]

He may have been playing it for the 99th time that night, like most "parrot-heads" do. That still doesn't justify beating him to death, but could lead to an altercation.

Sounds justifiable.

[israel]

you know, if a man hadn't died in this story, i'd probably say it's his own damn fault.

[Mikeybackwards]

In reading the article it seems possible that Lopez (the victime) and his friends might have been the ones to escalate the argument into the street fight that resulted in the man's death.

Seems like the 'suspects' might be able to make a case for self-defense. After all, 3 military types versus 2 civilians. Also, under the common acts theory, the two men who joined Lopez in fighting the two 'suspects' might reasonably be charged with his murder as well, since they engaged in an illegal act (fighting/brawling) that led to the death of Lopez.

In any case, the worst charge I could see the two suspects facing would be manslaughter, since it is unlikely the prosecution could prove the suspects intended to kill Lopez.

[winkyb2me]

Mikey, there's NOTHING in the article to indicate the victim escalated the situation.

As a matter of fact, there is plenty missing from the article. Like the actual cause of death. Like the identity of the 'suspects'. Why were they allowed to leave the area without arrest? There has to be so much more to this story.

[Bohica]

Two songs that make me cringe is the one in this story, and that "Don't Worry, Be Happy" song!

[KC Parrothead]

Interesting that the Steamboat Pilot doesn't mention the song

[Ron Burgundy]

I was kicked out of a local bar after this song when some jacka__ played it on the jukebox and kept singing along and interjecting common phrases. And when he got to the part where he says "Where's the salt... Where's the G.D. Salt!?" I hucked a salt shaker off of my table at him. The only problem was that this was one of those mexican restaurants that use those little Coronita bottle salt and pepper shakers. It didn't hit him in the head but in the back of the torso but it still caused enough of a stir for them to ask me to leave.
Thank you and have a good day.

[Wisdom]

He didn't get wasted away in margaritaville....he got wasted in margaritaville....what a way to go...

[blarneology]

Winky, the victim escalated the situation when he went outside.

There really isn't enough of this story to really make a judgement. If the victim went outside though they were definitely at fault too.

[Mickey Mouse]

Two songs that make me cringe is the one in this story, and that "Don't Worry, Be Happy" song!

Yeah, and after getting beat up with a possible broken jaw, and torn ligaments, it's probably the only song that will play until you get better....the whistling in that song would be easy to learn for any parrot...

[blarneology]

"He didn't get wasted away in margaritaville....he got wasted in margaritaville....what a way to go..."

Yes kids, if you don't stay in school you may just end up like this.

[winkyb2me]

The article only says the fight was on a street near the bar. The victim could have just been walking home. That's not escalatory.

The only way it could be put back on the victim is if he and his friends followed the suspects out of the bar but, again, the article doesn't address that point either.

[blarneology]

Yea, they had a jukebox outside they were playing buffet on. You have cracked the case wide open. LOL!

Now in your second statement says "if they followed them outside". You are just looking for an excuse to make one person the bad guy and the other the good guy. It might be prudent to just wait till you know more of the story.

[blarneology]

Winky, you might just want to actually read the story before commenting anymore. It's obvious from your last post you didn't read it.

[Newbie]

Sounds like a macho thing was going on. Nothing like taking it to the street but nowadays taking it to the street can kill you.

What a shame to get killed over a song or someone's comments about your taste in songs.

[Mikeybackwards]

Look at the follow up that James posted. It seems like after being hassled for playing 'Margaritaville', the victime and his two military buddies then proceeded to hassle the other two men for playing a Kanye West song.

Looking more and more like the victim in this case was at least 50% at fault.

[146]

OK, I think I got enough. I'll pass your judgements on to the Judge and he can then declare his guilt and sentence. Thanks everyone:)

[Mike]

Some people say that there's a woman to blame.

I alway thought it was wheres the salt not wheres the assult!

[Nemesis]

So, should they start making anyone who plays the juke box sit in a wire cage like the band in a honky tonk?? I can think of a few songs more obnoxious than Margaritaville: Tiptoe Through the Tulips by Tiny Tim, Rubber Ducky, Grandma Got run over by a Reindeer, 99 bottles of beer, anything by C.W. McCall and Achy Breaky Heart by Billy Ray Cyrus.

[JB]

It was the salt, the Gosh Darned salt! The song rocks, despite all those haters out there... Well, actually they're better frozen w/ patron...