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In a tragic turn of events, a pregnant widow shared the poignant last text message she received from her husband before he lost his life in a violent incident outside a Scottsdale, Arizona bar earlier this month.
Thomas John “TJ” Pizzitola, 29, was discovered unconscious on a sidewalk near Pattie’s First Avenue Lounge around 2:15 a.m. on October 11. This followed an ejection from the bar along with two friends due to their rowdy conduct, as reported by FOX10 Phoenix.
The evening took a fatal twist outside the establishment. As Pizzitola and his friends made their way to a rideshare vehicle, a seemingly ordinary bump with a woman escalated. Drew Meneses, 24, allegedly struck Pizzitola with a sudden punch, leaving him unconscious.
Krisan Pizzitola, the grieving widow, recounted how she had dropped her husband off for what should have been an enjoyable night out with friends, only weeks before the anticipated birth of their son.
The night of October 11 was meant to be a simple outing for Thomas John “TJ” Pizzitola and his friends, but it ended in tragedy in the early morning hours in Scottsdale, Arizona. The Pizzitola family, grappling with their loss, shared this heartbreaking story through FOX10 Phoenix KSAZ.
“I texted him that I had gotten home and he texted me back and said that he wished that I was there, but that he was so proud of me for staying home and taking care of our baby boy and that he loved me,” Krisan told the outlet.
“That was the last text I ever got from him,” she added.
Pizzitola was rushed to a hospital, though he later died from a fatal brain injury.
On Oct. 22, police arrested five people in connection with his death, including Meneses, who was charged with second-degree murder.
Drew Meneses, 24, was charged with second-degree murder and is being held on $1 million bond. (Scottsdale Police Department / Maricopa County Jail)
Meneses is being held on $1 million bond. He told the court that the incident “was a bad night,” according to the outlet.
“It was not supposed to happen like that at all and there was no malicious intent for that at all,” he said.
Prosecutor Angela Andrews said cellphone video shows Pizzitola “standing with his arms to his side” when Meneses walks “up behind him and essentially sucker punch him in the head,” according to the outlet.
The other suspects include Julius Husser, 27, Tony Becker, 26, and Mark Whitford, 23, all of whom were charged with aggravated assault. Husser and Becker each face an additional charge of assault. A fifth suspect, 27-year-old Krista Molina, was charged with assault and disorderly conduct.
Julius Husser, 27, from left, Tony Becker, 26, and Mark Whitford, 23, and Krista Molina, 27, were all charged in connection with the assault. (Scottsdale Police Department / Maricopa County Jail)
Krisan is due to give birth to a baby boy next month.
“I’m trying so hard not to be so angry at this situation and try to be the strong woman that he thinks that I am,” she told the outlet.
Krisan added that she is going to name the child TJ Vito as a tribute to his late father.
“All he ever wanted to be was the best father ever and the best husband,” she said. “But he wasn’t finished.”
A GoFundMe page for the family said Pizzitola will continue to help others through organ donation.