Groom Beaten To Death With Bat By Wedding Crashers

A groom was killed in California after two brothers crashed his wedding and beat him to death.

It had just been hours after Joe Melgoza, 30, tied the knot. He was celebrating with his new bride during the reception at his sister-in-law’s place Saturday night into Sunday, when two men attacked him.

The men, identified as brothers Rony Castaneda Ramirez, 28, and Josue Castaneda Ramirez, 19, were hanging out at the reception uninvited and were asked to leave. They later came back with bats and Melgoza tried to protect the guests from the wedding crashers.

Police responded around 2:20 a.m. to a fight that took place at the Chino Home. After searching the surrounding neighborhood, Melgoza was found in a nearby backyard, where he died.

Two people including Melgoza were injured in the attack.

“Those cowards came back with bats. They were in the alley and it was dark… My brother tried to go get them. They pulled him into the house and they killed him,” Andy Velasquez, Melgoza’s brother, told NBC Los Angeles.

Melgoza has an 11-year-old daughter, who will now be taken care of by his mother and siblings.

The brothers were arrested and are being held without bail on suspicion of murder. They are yet to be charged formally. They lived near Melgoza’s sister-in-law’s place where the reception took place.

“My brother did not deserve to die like that, he was a good man, he was a solid man,” Velasquez told NBC Los Angeles.

A GoFundMe page has been setup to cover Megoza’s funeral costs and support his daughter. His brothers and family are heartbroken over his tragic loss.

"He was taken from us in such a tragic and horrific way. He leaves behind his daughter Lilly who will be in good hands with Joe’s family," the GoFundMe page read.