BAYTOWN, Texas – Baytown police are searching for the men who brutally attacked two bar patrons with a tire iron last Friday night.
The incident happened in the back parking lot of the Limelight Club in the 4500 block of Highway 146 North.
Emergency crews responded to the scene where they found the two men unconscious and lying on the ground in the back parking lot.
"They came from the back, I didn't get to see anything," said Eric Saenz, who was attacked along with his friend, Rigoberto Garza. "They just kept hitting us multiple times, they wouldn't stop."
Both men were transported to Memorial Hermann Hospital.
Saenz was treated and released, but Garza remains hospitalized with head trauma and other severe injuries.
Saenz says they went to the bar to watch the Rockets' playoff game and to play darts. He told police they didn't exchange words with anyone nor did they ever feel threatened before the incident.
The attack happened as the friends were leaving the bar after 2 a.m.
Saenz says he saw two men jump on Garza and when he tried to intervene, several men jumped on him.
"It was horrible, it was horrible," said Saenz. "I never went through something like that ever in my life."
Baytown police plan to release surveillance video of the attack on Wednesday.
In the meantime, investigators are asking for the public's help. Witnesses told police the attackers jumped into an older model Dodge pickup and sped away from the scene.
"We're trying to have the community and patrons at the bar who saw what happened to come forward," said Det. Edgar Elizondo with the Baytown Police Department.
Elizondo says police have not identified a motive in the case.
"Normally there's always a reason for something, but we don't know the circumstances behind," said Elizondo.
Saenz says he hopes someone with information with information will come forward.
"Let the authorities know because they'll do it to somebody else, somebody you love," said Saenz.
Anyone who has information on this or any other crime is asked to call the Baytown Police Department at 281-422-8371. You can also contact Crime Stoppers at 281-427-TIPS, submit anonymous tips online at the Baytown Police Department website, or text keyword BAYTOWN plus your tip to 274637 CRIMES).
Crime Stoppers will pay up to $5,000 cash and you will remain anonymous.