Opinion ID: 871170
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: John Cooprider

Text: According to Cooprider, the bar closes at approximately 1:15 a.m. Once customers leave, they may socialize in the parking lot. Bar employees attempt to clear the parking lot to make sure no one is stumbling, . . . fighting, [or] drinking[.] Cooprider's duties included overseeing activities and ensuring people were safe, and not over intoxicated. If patrons are stumbling and intoxicated, Cooprider and his staff find them a taxi or a ride home. That night, everyone was out of the bar by 1:30. Cooprider walked, with another security guard, across the parking lot to the corner of Paradise Photo. There, he noticed Kapena and another male standing close to each other and speaking loudly. Kapena was not with a group of people, but was by himself[] when he was taking with the male. According to Cooprider, the man conversing with Kapena appeared to be with Respondent. He also noticed a commotion among a group consisting of mostly males and security guards twenty yards away from him. Security guards were trying to get people to leave[,] as if there [had been] an altercation[.] Cooprider did not feel that he had to help because the situation was under control. Instead, Cooprider turned his attention to the two men having a conversation. Cooprider was five or six feet from them, and although Cooprider was concerned enough to pay attention, he did not think their conversation would result in a physical confrontation. According to Cooprider, it seemed like they were arguing about something and were a little passionate, but the males' hands were down at their sides. He did not notice any women. About thirty seconds later, Cooprider observed Respondent, who was by himself, walk away from the commotion, towards the two men, in a calm, cool, collective [sic] manner. Cooprider observed Respondent move to the corner of Paradise Photo. Respondent did not have any cuts, bruises, [or] bleeding whatsoever[.] Respondent walked approximately 30 inches in front of [Cooprider], and [] looked over to the left[,] saw [Kapena,] and hit him with everything he had[.] According to Cooprider, Kapena did not see [Respondent] coming[.] In his view, Respondent blind sided a helpless person. After Respondent struck the man, he defended himself from approximately fifteen people who charge[d] him. Cooprider noticed two women defending Respondent and pushing other men off of him. Cooprider and the security guards attempted to intervene, but the fight continued. At one point, Cooprider pulled Respondent off of someone else and put him on the ground.