RB bar fight leaves Lawndale man in coma
A bar fight in Redondo Beach last week has left a Lawndale man in a coma and police looking for a suspect. Matthew Klaus, 23, had a verbal altercation with another man at Brixton on the Redondo Beach pier just before 1 a.m. on Friday, according to Sgt. Phil Keenan.
The suspect punched Klaus (left), who fell backward down several stairs and hit the back of his head on the concrete floor below, Keenan said. The suspect and four or five friends ran from the club and were last seen entering the parking structure, Keenan said. He was described as a Hispanic man in his mid 20s who was about 5-feet, 10-inches tall and weighed approximately 250 pounds, Keenan said. Keenan said the investigation is continuing.
Klaus was taken to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center near Torrance, where he remains in a drug-induced coma in critical condition. He has multiple skull fractures and bleeding in the brain.
His mother, Renate Klaus, said they are just waiting now to see if the swelling in his brain stops.
Klaus, a 2003 Mira Costa High School graduate who is working on his contractor's license, went to the bar with some friends to see the reggae band The Rebelution. Klaus had recently gone on a week-long surfing trip in Costa Rica, and The Rebelution was the only music he and his friends brought. So, at the last minute, he reunited with some of the friends for the Thursday night show, his mother said.
The family is asking that anybody who knows anything about the incident contact the Redondo Beach Police Department at (310) 379-2477.
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About the Blogger
Larry Altman has covered crime in the South Bay since 1990. He's seen it all - the missing model who turned up dead in the desert, the wives found dead in trunks, the high-school coaches who get a little too close to their players. He drives his young colleagues nuts with his "I remember when" stories. He welcomes your tips and observations about the present, and you can mix in a little Lakers basketball talk if you like.
E-mail Larry at larry.altman@dailybreeze.com.
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The band was not called "The Rebelution" it was "Rebelution" A reggae band based out of Santa Barbara, CA. the correct website is www.rebelutionmusic.com, not that website that the daily breeze posted.
My prayers are with the Matthew Klaus family. It is a shame that nobody ever sees what happens in these South Bay crimes.
Matthew did not deserve the treatment he received on the Redondo Beach Pier. My prayer is that the swelling and bleeding in his brain will stop, and that he gains full consciousness.
South Bay, we must wake up and not let these thugs take over our community. Let's put all of these thugs under the jail.
I went to school with Matt,we were good friends, however lost contact after senior year. Unfortunate to hear about him in this way. My prayers are with the family. I know Matt will pull threw hes a tough guy!
I also feel sorry for the grieving family of Mathew Klaus as well. But we were not there when this incident happened. I personally know John Penna and he is not a thug. Remember we are all innocent until proven guilty.
All I have to say is that I am so sorry for what had happened but I have known one of the 5 men for years and I do not believe that he would do anything like that to anyone. At times accidents happen and we do not know all the details so before you go on and say that all thugs should be put in jail we should not judge- Isn't GOD suppose to judge us. I pray for both and I hope that the truth will prevail.
This is directed to RB's comment
Don't you think the last thing of importance here is the name of the band??? we're not worried about the misspelling of the bandname, a persons life is in jeopardy!!!
The real person that hit Matt, should come forth, instead of John taking the rap.
I FEEL SORRY FOR BOTH MATTHEW AND JOHN THEY DONT DESERVE IT OR THEIR FAMILIES. AND ITS NOT RIGHT TO CALL ANYONE THUGS IF U DONT KNOW THEM, BUT WE DONT KNOW WHO STARTED THE FIGHT FOR ALL WE KNOW IT COULD OF BEEN MATTHEW. THEY WERE AT A BAR AND WE ALL KNOW HOW PEOPLE GET AFTER HAVING A FEW DRINKS.. I KNOW JOHNNY AND TWO OF THE GUYS FOR MANY YEARS AND THEY DONT START STUFF, THEY R LOVING GUYS..
I have known the klaus family for a long time and was really close with matt when i was 12-14. We hung out in high school and I really have never known matt to start fights with anyone; I think to call Penna a thug is giving to much credit to a drunk jerk off whom we see to much of in the south bay that just gets drunk and looks for fights. Especially with white guys that wiegh more than 50 pounds less than him. You can defend this man even if you know him hell, he may be a "good guy" in your eyes, im sure OJ simpson has friends too; but take it for how it is; Matts in a coma and penna is jokin with his surranios in jail. It's messed up. My prayers are with you Matt you can pull through this.
its funny that someone actually posted this article on a white supremacist forum. If you don't know, just google it, and you'll see for yourself.
Idiots talking about other races making the southbay bad, its actually people that don't even live here anymore/can't afford it that makes it bad. If you can't afford to buy a house here gtfo.