Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "michael weisz"

Jury deliberating on "Pops" case

2011-03-16T03:34:09Z

The jury assigned to the case of local security guard Leroy “Pops” Fisher’s death is now deliberating, following a day of passionate arguments by both the prosecution and defense attorneys.

At stake is the future of Michael Bruce Weisz of Sacramento, who faces charges of second-degree murder and felony hit-and-run with death or injury in the case of Fisher’s 2009 death.

The prosecution and defense attorneys made final arguments in Weisz’ trial on Tuesday in Sacramento County Superior Court.

Sacramento County Deputy District Attorney Sheri Greco contended that Weisz is guilty of both second-degree murder and felony hit-and-run with death. Donald Masuda, the attorney representing Weisz, argued that his client is not guilty of either charge.

Weisz and a friend were ordered by Fisher and a second security guard to leave Badlands, a Midtown nightclub, for inappropriate behavior on Sept. 23, 2009, Sacramento Police Department spokesman Sgt. Norm Leong said at the time. The Police Department also said at the time that it believed Weisz ran over Fisher in his car.

Greco argued that Weisz intentionally ran over Fisher and showed “conscious disregard” for Fisher’s life. “He was driving his car into Leroy Fisher,” Greco said.

Greco, who showed photos of Fisher’s severely damaged body after the event, also argued that Weisz should be charged guilty of hit-and-run resulting in death. She contended that Weisz intentionally drove away from the crime scene to San Francisco.

Meanwhile, Masuda argued that Weisz’ mental state was affected after being Tased by Fisher with a stun pen outside the nightclub. He said that Weisz did not intentionally run over Fisher.

Rather, Masuda argued that Weisz was trying to get away from Fisher. At the scene, Weisz had been Tased, was crying and was “trying to do the best he can to get out of the parking lot.”

Weisz, fleeing from Fisher, accidentally ran him over, according to Masuda’s argument. “It’s charged as a murder, but wasn’t a murder to begin with.”

Weisz’ and Fisher’s supporters who attended the hearing sat on opposite sides of the room. Some people on both sides of the room were seen crying quietly during Tuesday’s final arguments.

The Sacramento Press will update readers on the jury’s decision as soon as it is made and information becomes available.

Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Staff reporter Suzanne Hurt contributed to this report.

Trial involving Leroy "Pops" Fisher's death underway

2011-03-05T02:24:49Z

A friend of late Sacramento security guard Leroy “Pops” Fisher is urging the city’s gay community to attend the trial of the man charged with killing Fisher in 2009.

The trial involving Fisher’s death started last week in Sacramento County Superior Court. Michael Bruce Weisz of Sacramento faces charges of second-degree murder and felony hit-and-run with death or injury in the case of Fisher’s death.

Steve Thompson, who was a friend of Fisher’s, has already used Facebook and e-mail messages to ask more than 150 people to appear in court to honor Fisher.

“I want to bring as many people as can be allowed,” Thompson said.

He said he is reaching out to the gay community about the trial because he heard that Weisz has many supporters attending the court hearings. The presence of Fisher’s friends at the trial would show that Fisher had many friends and that “he is well-missed in the community,” Thompson said.

The Police Department said at the time that it believed Weisz ran over Fisher in his car.

Donald Masuda, the attorney representing Weisz, said Friday he was not bothered by the possibility of a crowd of Fisher’s supporters at the trial. “As long as they’re not disruptive, I don’t see any problem with it.”

In a comment to The Sacramento Bee in December 2009, Masuda contended that Fisher’s death was accidental.

The next hearing will be held 9 a.m. Tuesday, at Superior Court’s Department 12 in Sacramento, 720 Ninth St.

Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Staff reporter Suzanne Hurt contributed to this report.

Friends Show Support For Accused Security Guard Murderer

2009-09-25T22:06:37Z

Before this week, he could have been best described as your average, typical 23-year-old male. A love of cars, technology and fashion is evident from the photos and descriptions that litter his online MySpace and Facebook profiles. Comments from friends show he was much loved and adored, but now those same friends are showing signs of solidarity and support for a man accused of murder.

"My heart goes out to you," friend Christopher Williams wrote Michael "Mykel" Weisz's MySpace profile. "I know you wouldn't do anything to hurt someone on purpose."

But that's exactly what authorities say Weisz did Wednesday morning when he allegedly ran down 64-year-old security guard Leroy Fisher with his car after being ejected from "Badlands," a popular gay Sacramento nightclub. Fisher died from the hit-and-run incident; Weisz and a friend later surrendered to authorities in San Francisco. Authorities say Fisher's death was not accidental.

"We believe he [Weisz] purposefully hit him," police spokesman Sgt. Norm Leong told reporters Wednesday. "It was not an accident."

A passenger that was reportedly with Weisz at the time of the murder has not been charged, though the investigation is still ongoing.

Weisz was booked into Sacramento County Jail early Thursday morning on one count of felony murder and one count of felony hit-and-run. Almost immediately following the news, an influx of friends flocked to Weisz's online profiles to express their support and love.

"Love ya Mykel, here for you!" friend Cheryl Ehara wrote on Weisz's Facebook profile. Another, Tru Calderon, wrote "May God be with you my friend."

The support for Michael Weisz seems underwhelmed compared to the evening vigil for Leroy Fisher, where friends, family and supporters of Sacramento's gay and lesbian community gathered on K Street near a line of gay clubs and businesses to remember a person who felt more like a friend than a security guard. Sacramento resident George Raya frequently hired Fisher for security at events, but was also familiar with Weisz.

"He has a bad reputation," Raya told Sacramento Press reporter Suzanne Hurt. "He's just this wild 23-year-old who gets drunk and doesn't act considerate."

Now, the same 23-year-old adored by family and friends sits behind bars, accused of murdering a beloved community figure. Weisz did not enter a plea when he appeared in Sacramento County court Friday afternoon. Instead, his attorney requested, and was granted, a delay by the court. Weisz's next scheduled appearance in court is set for early October.

A statement reportedly from Weisz's family was placed on his Facebook profile Thursday afternoon on his behalf, thanking the public for their support.

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Matthew Keys is an online news writer for FOX40.com and community contributor to The Sacramento Press. He can be reached by e-mail at mkeys@tribune.com.

Photos appear courtesy Michael Weisz' Facebook profile.

"Pops" mourned, suspect held

2009-09-25T04:08:32Z

Friends of a bouncer allegedly run down and killed on the job were asking themselves Thursday why they weren't able to protect him the way he'd protected them for years.

People who knew 64-year-old Leroy Fisher described him as a down-to-earth, soft-spoken security guard who could de-escalate most bad situations just by talking. His calm demeanor, helpful advice and age earned him the nickname "Pops" at the four gay bars at which he coordinated security.

When fights did break out, Fisher jumped right in to break them up. That earned him the love and respect of many in the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community, who mourned him at a candlelight vigil Wednesday night. But that also brought him fear — a fear of retribution.

"He told us he knew his time was coming," said Olivia Shafer, 21, as she stood beside a shrine near where he died. "It just sucks, 'cause we weren't here."

Shafer and other regulars, as well as bar employees, stepped in to help Fisher on many occasions, she said. They say they can't understand why he was alone early Wednesday when he was reportedly run down by a car in a parking lot behind the gay dance club Badlands.

A 23-year-old club regular was being held in Sacramento County Jail Thursday after being charged with Fisher's murder. Police believe Michael Weisz of Sacramento ran Fisher down after being kicked out of the club, said Sgt. Norm Leong, Sacramento Police Department spokesman.

Midtown resident George Raya always hired Fisher, who operated Leroy Fisher Private Security, to work at dances sponsored by Capital Crossroads Gay Rodeo Association. He called Fisher a "super-good guy" who was very friendly.

Weisz, who is gay, seemed to be known by everyone at the bar.

"He has a bad reputation," Raya said. "He's just this wild 23 year old who gets drunk and doesn't act considerate."

Gay bars usually are free of violence, said Bill Burgua, who is active in Sacramento's gay community.

"It's not usual to have fights break out in gay bars. That's pretty unheard of," he said. "It's very, very sad that somebody could take out their anger in this way."

Weisz and a friend who was a passenger in the car turned themselves in to Sacramento detectives at a San Francisco police station shortly before noon Wednesday. Fisher and a second security guard had removed the men from the bar roughly between 12:30 a.m. and 1 a.m. because they weren't acting appropriately, Leong said.

Police called to the scene found Fisher lying injured in the parking lot of Badlands, which sits near the corner of 20th and K streets in a trendy neighborhood nicknamed "Lavender Heights" for its concentration of gay-owned businesses. Fisher died of his injuries at U.C. Davis Medical Center, police said.

The passenger, who lives in Sacramento, has not been charged in connection with the crime. Police, who are still investigating, are not releasing his name, photos or additional information, Leong said. Detectives are searching for additional witnesses.

"We're hoping there's some witness that saw what happened who will come forward now," Leong said. "We still need any witnesses that might have seen anything in that back parking area."

An estimated 100 people turned out Wednesday night for the vigil held at a shrine dedicated to Fisher on a grassy area next to the parking lot that Badlands shares with The Depot Video Club. Thursday afternoon, people stopped by to leave flowers, write notes and pay their respects.

"I guess God needed him more than I did. RIP. I (heart) you Pops!" read one note.

A trust fund to help Fisher's wife and son is being established, and a memorial is being arranged, said T.J. Bruce, who owns The Depot Video Club, Badlands and Hot Rods, a burger-and-hot-dog joint next door. Bruce said he did not know Weisz.

Fisher had provided security services for Bruce's businesses for eight years, and also worked many gay and lesbian events.

"We loved him," Bruce said. "He was basically a neighborhood fixture."

Fisher was kind to many people, calling taxis if they were too drunk to drive and giving out Sugar Daddy candy, said Matthew Windsor, who visited the shrine Thursday.

"He was a good and generous man," Windsor said.

The security guard was known to wear a cowboy hat with devil's horns and tell people that he wore the hat because he was horny. Fisher admired the ladies and shared his wisdom with Shafer and other young people in the club crowd, said Shafer, who knew him nearly five years. After his death, she wrote "RIP Pops" on her neck, and said she is considering getting a tattoo in his memory.

"He was a loved man, and that's why we don't understand why he was killed," she said.

Candlelight vigil photo provided by Nathan Feldman. Suzanne Hurt is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.