A San Jose man allegedly killed a male victim during a fight at a downtown Morgan Hill bar early in the morning May 20.
Morgan Hill police arrested Joseph Haley, 32 of San Jose, at about 10:15 a.m. May 20 on suspicion of homicide in relation to the incident that happened at the M&H Tavern, 17365 Monterey Road, MHPD Sgt. Carson Thomas said. Haley is accused of causing injuries that resulted in the victim’s death, though police declined to specify if any weapons were involved.
Officers responded to the Tavern about 1:35 a.m. on a report of a man lying on the ground and bleeding from his head in the back parking lot, Thomas said. Officers located the man who was suffering from “major head trauma.” The victim was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Police determined that the victim and suspect had been involved in a “physical altercation” that resulted in the victim’s death, Thomas said.
“Based on witness statements and video surveillance footage (from the Tavern), we determined that (Haley) was involved in the physical altercation, which we believe led to the victim’s death,” Thomas said.
Although authorities have not yet released the victim’s name, his employer identified him as John Flood. Flood worked at The Hill restaurant and bar “off and on” for about eight months, according to The Hill owner Dustin Evanger.
A sign on The Hill’s door the afternoon of May 20 said the restaurant was closed for the day to observe Flood’s death.
However, The Hill, located at 17330 Monterey Road, plans to host a memorial wake for Flood 9 p.m. Thursday, May 21. Staff will pass around a bucket for donations to the Wounded Warrior Project, according to an announcement on The Hill’s Facebook page.
M&H Tavern owner Susan Hall expressed her “deepest sympathy” for the family of the victim, whom she does not know.
She noted that bar staff and management have cooperated fully with police. The bartender on duty “immediately” called 911 when he heard the commotion and saw the victim on the ground.
“We make every effort to keep it a friendly atmosphere so people can have fun,” Hall said.
Hall did not know if the victim and suspect had been patronizing the Tavern before the altercation began.
The incident is the first homicide in Morgan Hill since June 2013, when Michael Sheppard allegedly killed his live-in girlfriend Bertha Paulson at the Morgan Hill Apartments mobile home complex on the 17800 block of Monterey Road.
Anyone with information about the May 20 incident can call MHPD at (408) 779-2101 or the anonymous tip line at (408) 947-7867.
