A man has been arrested in connection with an incident that sent a beloved West Hollywood valet to the hospital last month, Los Angeles County detectives announced Tuesday.
Dorian Michael Gray, 28, a resident of Van Nuys, was arrested on Friday for attempted murder, assault with a dangerous weapon and battery, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Brandon Zeff said during a press conference. Gray is being held without bail.
On Sept. 14 around 10:27 p.m., Gray allegedly assaulted Efrain “Frankie” Zarazua outside Barney’s Beanery on Santa Monica Boulevard, officials said. Zarazua was kicked several times in the head and upper body and fell unconscious. Gray is said to have fled the scene.
“The deceased was punched and fainted when he hit the ground, he hit his head on the ground,” said Zeff. “The suspect kicked the victim about seven times in the upper back and head. Eyewitnesses explained that he also stepped on the deceased’s head during the incident.”
Gray is accused of committing at least four other incidents within 20 minutes of the night he attacked Zarazua, Zeff said. Gray is accused of hitting a female victim with a bottle near Santa Monica Boulevard and Hancock Avenue.
Gray allegedly struck the two male victims a few minutes later in the 8700 block of Santa Monica Boulevard, Zeff added.
Zarazua was hospitalized and released from intensive care two weeks after the attack, his wife wrote on the GoFundMe page.
“Frankie is back home, but he is still a long way from recovery. Because of his brain damage, he has many episodes of amnesia, and as a result he has to receive permanent care and 24/7 care,” Irma Zarazua wrote. “We don’t know how long he will need to be rehabilitated to return to his happy and friendly state again.”
Zarazua has worked at the WeHo mainstay for more than 30 years and is a fixture at the restaurant, according to AJ Sacher, director of operations at Barney’s Beanery in West Hollywood.
“He’s the sweetest, nicest person in the world,” he said. “He is the last person to deserve this kind of violent attack.”
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