NJ bar security guard accused of causing man’s beating death

◼ NJ man suffered fatal head wound at bar

◼ Patient died nearly a year later

◼ Security guard now charged in death

ELIZABETH — A security guard has been accused of causing a man’s fatal head injury at a local bar and lounge last summer, Union County Prosecutor William Daniel announced.

Regis Pelegrino Motas, an Elizabeth resident, has been charged with first-degree aggravated manslaughter, in the death of 59-year-old Jose Lopez months after the incident at El Monsignor Lounge.

Elizabeth police were called to the establishment at 654 Elizabeth Avenue on July 9, 2023.

El Monsignor Lounge in Elizabeth (Google Maps)

Officers found Lopez, also from Elizabeth, suffering from a head injury.

He was taken to University Hospital and later transferred to a rehabilitation facility.

Lopez died of his injuries on March 25, after which law enforcement found that he had been assaulted by the 26-year-old Motas, who worked security for the bar.

Motas, a Cuban national according to jail records, was arrested on July 12.

He was being held at the Essex County Jail, pending a detention hearing on Wednesday.

Anyone with potentially relevant information about the case was urged to contact Union County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Detective Kevin Stanicki at 908-527-4695 or Elizabeth Police Sergeant David Haverty at 908-335-6378.

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