Suspects Sought After Assault on Mavericks Trumpet Player
This story has been updated (see below).
Trumpet player Lorenzo Molina Ruiz for the country and Latin group The Mavericks, and his friend Orlando Morales were allegedly assaulted early Sunday morning, October 4th, at Tony’s Eat & Drink in Franklin, Tennessee. According to Ruiz and Morales, they were waiting in line to use the restroom, and were speaking with each other in Spanish when they were approached by two other men, who allegedly said, “Speak Fucking English. You’re in America.” The two men then allegedly assaulted both Ruiz and Morales, with both of them sustaining injuries and eventually ending up in Vanderbilt Hospital.
Lorenzo Molina Ruiz sustained only minor injuries. But his friend Orlando Morales suffered a broken nose, orbital bones, a concussion, and internal bleeding, according to the wife of The Mavericks front man, Betty Malo.
“We didn’t do anything to anybody and got beaten up badly. My friend is in bad shape,” Ruiz says in a Go Fund Me drive that has been posted for the two men.
According to Franklin Police, they did not learn of the incident until they were summoned to the Vanderbilt Emergency Room at 3:00 a.m. on October 4th where they learned the alleged assault occurred at Tony’s Eat & Drink, and launched an investigation.
“The case is currently classified as an aggravated assault, which is a felony. It has been assigned to a detective, and an investigation is under way,” says Franklin Police Department public information officer Lt. Charles Warner. “…this case clearly has our attention and we are committed to holding anyone who perpetrates a violent assault like this accountable. The victim’s injuries are serious, but not believed to be life-threatening.”
Betty Malo also alleges that Tony’s Eat & Drink did nothing about the incident, and kicked out Ruiz and Morales, while bouncers did not allow them to re-enter the establishment. This is when Ruiz and Morales went to the hospital. Betty Malo also believes the incident should be considered a hate crime, and says they’ve retained legal council in the matter, while calling Tony’s Eat & Drink “complicit” in the alleged assault.
Tony’s Eat & Drink released a statement on Tuesday, saying,
“We would like to send our deepest condolences to the individuals affected by the altercation that occurred. We want to be clear that we do not support racism or condone hate crimes at our establishment and are taking this matter seriously. We do not nor have we ever allowed for violence to perpetuate for any reason and in this specific instance, our security staff acted quickly and reasonably to bring the altercation to an end. Our patrons safety is extremely important to us and we work very hard to maintain a safe environment for everyone. We are an establishment that is open to the public and cannot know what may or may not be in a person’s heart and mind, but we do not condone bad actions.”
Two suspects caught on camera are being sought in the incident, one of which was wearing a black shirt and a gold chain, as well as a hat that fell off during the incident, along with another individual wearing a jacket with a stripe down the sleeves. A cash reward of up to $1,000 is available to anyone with information. People are being asked to call (615) 794-4000 with any information, or if they have further footage or photos of the two individuals in question.
Cash reward for info on the 2 men in these photos taken during the brutal beating of a man in a N. Carothers bar Sunday morning | https://t.co/x5uWibjGRs pic.twitter.com/I5SjfhZdSr
— Franklin Police Dept (@FranklinTNPD) October 6, 2020
Lorenzo Molina Ruiz is part of the Fabulous Five band that backs up the original members of The Mavericks. Along with playing trumpet, he also contributes percussion and backing vocals to the group. Though distinctly Latin in sound and influence and based out of southern Florida, The Mavericks have long-standing ties to country music, winning CMA and ACM Awards as a top vocal group in the mid 90’s. Their latest album En Español released in August is the band’s first entirely in Spanish.
“For this assault to occur as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with our own performance (featuring Lorenzo) tonight on the Hispanic Heritage Awards shows that although we’ve come a long way, we still have a long way to go,” The Mavericks front man Raul Malo said in a statement. “America is better than this.”
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UPDATE (10/7/2020 6:15 p.m. CDT): According to police, the two men sought in the assault came forward Tuesday night and are offering a different account about the incident. Investigators are saying they are referring the case to the District Attorney’s office to see if charges are applicable. More information when available.
October 7, 2020 @ 9:55 am
It’s really difficult to reply to this story without using profanity. It is just so sad and infuriating. Wishing Ruiz and Morales a swift recovery and that justice is done. But also that we can all be allies for those who are the targets of hate.
October 7, 2020 @ 10:11 am
I am a wait for the facts kinda guy but it’s hard to do when the other party is hiding. I still don’t get why people just don’t mind their business and move the F’ along.
October 7, 2020 @ 10:34 am
What a genuinely sad commentary on the ignorance of some Americans who are so insecure that they feel threatened by anyone speaking a different language as if this great nation isn’t a land of immigrants from all over the world and that diversity what makes it so wonderful to live here. I sincerely hope these creeps are caught soon and sentenced to the maximum possible prison time
October 7, 2020 @ 10:41 am
Who gives a shit what language people are talking amongst themselves? Racist punks.
October 8, 2020 @ 3:28 am
Hispanic isn’t a race. It’s a classification based on native language/nationality. There are Hispanic folks of several races.
October 8, 2020 @ 1:32 pm
Yes, pedantry is what’s important here.
October 8, 2020 @ 8:51 pm
It’s not a race. You can’t call everyone you disagree with a racist. Established words have actual definitions.
Speaking of definitions, you’re using ‘pedantry’ incorrectly.
October 7, 2020 @ 11:12 am
I won’t jump to any conclusions, based on incomplete information.
It looks like those photographs were taken from a video, and they’re pretty clear in their own right–so authorities should be able to track down the suspects.
October 7, 2020 @ 11:47 am
Let’s get real.
Stupid speech comes from every culture/ethnic group, every day. There are assholes in every culture.
I believe that most people are good at heart, willing to lend a helping hand to a neighbor, or stranger, in need.
While waiting in line at a Marathon station in Miami, owned by Cubano friends, two Cuban guys in front of me started talking about “Crackers.”
Assure you, i do not look anything like a cracker, other than my skin was whiter than theirs.
When one of them turned around & cut me a quick look, i smiled & pointed South, and said, Cuba is that way.
Looked at my friends, and gave a wink.
The owners were a generation older than we, and the gentleman came out from behind the register, and Blessed those guys up and down, in Spanglish.
Am beyond Blessed to have great friends from several countries around the globe.
The two idiots involved in the Maverick’s musician’s assault, need to be dealt with.
Most of all, by the community, in helping them to understand, that some things are a no – no.
But, a go fund me page?
Be serious.
Maybe i should have started a go fund me for gas money.
And aren’t bar fights, somewhat normal?
What say ye, Hoptown?
Testosterone, alcohol, …
October 7, 2020 @ 12:06 pm
Cool story bro, but your point is what, exactly?
One of these guys is probably going to need thousands of dollars in facial reconstructive surgery never mind the initial emergency room bill, and because he’s a working musician he probably doesn’t have great insurance (if any). Therefore, the GoFundMe page. People can donate, or not. So, for you, no gun to your head – don’t donate. Let other, better people do it.
October 7, 2020 @ 12:11 pm
Knock yourself out.
You can screenshot your posted donation here.
October 7, 2020 @ 11:57 am
Infuriating. Also infuriating that there’ve been so many high-profile hate-crime hoaxes the past few years that some people react to something like this with skepticism.
They’ve got corroborative evidence from the venue, stills of the suspects from video footage, and crystal clear photos of the victims in the hospital, bloodied up badly. I can’t imagine why or how two working musicians would provoke an altercation like this.
Fucking savage. I hope justice is served quickly.
October 7, 2020 @ 12:53 pm
Hoaxes and people jumping to conclusions make me skeptical of everything these days. The fact that they ran speaks volumes though. Fuck them. Hope they’re caught soon.
October 7, 2020 @ 12:15 pm
Let’s face it, even if this guys are caught they’ll probably just get a slap on their wrist or get off for good behavior or some white BS. Until people are dealt with accordingly, others won’t stop to think before they decide to act out like this.
October 14, 2020 @ 6:52 am
White people are so evil.
October 7, 2020 @ 12:23 pm
Godspeed, Lorenzo and Orlando. What an awful thing to have happened! Hoping they find the culprits and justice is served. It must be very stressful for Orlando to need surgery and be unable to fund it. When the culprit is brought to justice will he have to pay Orlando reparation to pay for the surgery? How do things like that work there?
October 7, 2020 @ 12:31 pm
What kind of name is Tony’s Eat & Drink?
October 8, 2020 @ 5:29 am
It’s probably short for Anthony’s Eatery And Drinkery.
October 7, 2020 @ 12:50 pm
The cops will pick up these punks by the end of this week.
I’m sure they’ll be popular with the Latin Kings when they go to Tennessee State Prison.
Meanwhile, Tony’s Eat and Drink should be looking into trying to get out of its lease.
It’s not going to need it anymore.
October 7, 2020 @ 1:46 pm
As I tell my kids. Nothing good happens at a bar especially after midnight. I worked in so many bars during college and have seen so much messed up stuff. I’ve had my fill. Being around a bunch of primates ( of any variety to make that very clear – human beings not talking skin types) who are getting drunk is not my idea of a good time or place to be.
October 7, 2020 @ 2:18 pm
This is in our neighborhood. We have played there when the restaurant was in different hands (Old School). So horrible. High end ignorance!!
October 7, 2020 @ 3:27 pm
I can speak conversational spanish thanks to my hispanic nanny growing up. My late wife is a 1st generation Mexican-American. We would speak in Spanish just to keep our edge, and it added an extra layer of privacy. I can’t tell you how many times some idiot would tell us, ‘this is America. Speak English’
Makes me sick about what happened to these fellas.
October 7, 2020 @ 4:12 pm
It’s ridiculous, peoples prejudices, based on a culture, or ethnicity.
Speak a crazy mixture of English/Espanol/some Cubano slang..
Very helpful in the medical field when you have totally non-english speaking patients.
Heard laughter more than once, from the radiology rooms and hallways, when explaining a procedure, & would accidentally lapse into espanol, with a patient who spoke perfect English.
The best universal/global language is a smile & a hug.
October 7, 2020 @ 4:43 pm
I agree with most of it. My wife comically swaps spanish/english words around accidentally. Funny part is when she realises and then goes through over a 100 words as she cant remember the word she swapped out.
Smiles and Hugs are great, so is “moderate” social drinking, helps remove the friction between decent people.
October 9, 2020 @ 8:27 am
“WE’re not in England, stop speaking English!!!”
October 7, 2020 @ 4:18 pm
Just added a quick update to the story. The two men wanted in connection with the assault have come forward, and are offering a conflicting account of the incident. The police investigators have referred the case to the District Attorney. I’m still running down info and will offer updates when available.
October 7, 2020 @ 4:38 pm
My wife is hispanic and i hate idiots like these. If it happened as described, then someone needs to take em down a back alley somewhere and smash their faces or err ahem, at least change the law to allow this to happen legally.
I do not agree to the hate crime label crap however as everyone has the right to hate someone, no matter how stupid and the label gives so much fuel to the politics of division. We have laws regarding assault and punish them properly. Only true hate crime is taxation and the feudal system it protects.
Anyway, some people however will always take umbrage with the way others look at them, how they dress, accent, you feel some people from xyz state/county/country talks down to you etc . Is basically just low life trash behaviour. If it was not the “talking Spanish” thing, it would be something else for these idiots. Punish them properly, be done with it.
P.S. before a few care bears got all wet eye about ignorance from Americans, as my wife would point out, there are plenty idiots back where she came from. When these idiots come to the US, only the ignorant behaviour of a very very small amount of Americans seems to attract the emotional BS and the “i am ashamed to be an American” blah blah. You must think you are so superior that the behaviour of some of your fellow Americans is more shocking than when others do it. Can only imagine what a liberal Mexican is thinking regarding the behaviour of those in the cartels, probably shot themselves by now because it was emotionally too much.
October 7, 2020 @ 5:48 pm
But, what if the victims said “Trump 2020” and the assailants were Antifa/BLM. That would make it ok to neat them up, right? Better get all the facts, you never know.
October 8, 2020 @ 2:07 am
Hey Kevin Wortman what if the victims said “Black Lives Matter” and the assailants wore MAGA hats. That would make it ok to beat them up, right? I’m rewording your quote to point out that it is ridiculous either way. Unless defending yourself from a physical attack, being violent and assaulting another person is wrong in any circumstance. No one should have to worry about being beaten for their race, sexual orientation, religious beliefs or lack of, political alliances, or the language they speak, or for any other reason. Tolerance is a much better option.
October 8, 2020 @ 4:39 am
I love liberals, you take a comment and emotionally get your knickers in a twist to reword the initial comment, so as to make your point after. Extremely “tolerant” way to make yourself feel and appear superior, lol yeah whatever.
If you were not so emotionally weak, you would realise his point is that when people are ID’d as Trump supporters and get attacked for it, all the righteous do gooders never seem to care, or a quick to judge the circumstances if the demographics are very compatible to their virtue BS. Sometimes to me it almost feels like the view is you had it coming if a Trump supporter were attacked. Therefore the rest of your comment is unnecessary show boating of your virtue. He is not saying it is okay either way, but you were too emotionally enraged and intolerant of his view that was relevant to him.
October 8, 2020 @ 9:32 am
You just posted the most emotionally loaded comment on here. I hope you find inner peace some day.
October 8, 2020 @ 10:32 am
lol, only because it suits you to imagine some rage behind it. It does not matter enough, you have your life and views and I have mine, free from TDS 🙂 <inserted this so as to help you ID my emotion.
October 8, 2020 @ 6:01 am
I stand by what I said. The comment had no relevance to the article. Nowhere in the the original story is politics mentioned at all yet that is where Kevin immediately went with his comment. What we can assume from the narrative is that the two musicians were attacked for speaking Spanish, not because they are conservative or liberal. If true, that is an act of intolerance. I wasn’t attacking Kevin personally or judging him or his political views like you seem to be doing to me. For what it’s worth I hold just as many conservative views and values as I do progressive ones because like all humans I’m not one dimensional. Which is another good reason to show tolerance. We are all more alike than we are different which is readily apparent if we put in the effort to learn and attempt to understand each other.
October 8, 2020 @ 12:01 pm
I am some random person in the world that you may never meet, sorry if you feel the need to defend your comments that you are entitled too.
I took Kevins comment to mean he views that everyone is jumping to conclusions before the facts (or at least both sides of the story) and it is potentially relevant to today’s racial politics that I know “some” on both sides can play, though very differently.
Your line “That would make it ok to beat them up, right?” is kinda loaded after what your typed previously.
But look, everyone has a few crossover views inside, but the old traditional political class warfare created resentment, as does racial politics, some feel the type of attention on the victim or even perpetrator is increasingly based on their demographic background. With some constantly looking to find ANY incident (even if in the end it is not) to prove correct their beliefs to use against others. This only creates more resentment and prevent us from focusing on the real incidents, which this may be one, lets see.
I am of a mixed background and my wife is Hispanic, if Kevin feels that when this happens to other people, defined either by race or political persuasion, the attention is different and from some people it is, then it is relevant to the article from his view point, otherwise you run the risk of it proving it to be true, especially if his opinion are dismissed or you twist it.
Sometimes when people feel the need to be tolerant, it is easy to justify or hard to realise you are being intolerant of other peoples views. Therefore I never state I am tolerant, why would I? I like my opinions and everyone is free to tell me to FO or agree, that is about as tolerant as I can be.
Anyway, these conversations are better with drinks, typed words are bland. I could call you emotionally weak to your face and I am fairly certain it would not come across as nasty, gotta love the internet.