John Flood, a longtime Morgan Hill resident, is remembered by those who knew him best as a veteran, a hero, a loving father and a friend who didn’t know a stranger.
Flood, who would have turned 31 this week, died as a result of injuries suffered in an altercation outside a downtown Morgan Hill bar May 20, according to police.
The Morgan Hill resident’s friends and family remembered him May 21 at a wake at The Hill bar and restaurant, where Flood worked security before his death.
“John made friends with everybody,” said Michael Guizar, who knew Flood for 25 years.
Flood grew up in Morgan Hill and graduated high school from Monte Vista Christian School in Watsonville, Guizar said. He earned his Associate’s degree from Gavilan College.
Flood served in the U.S. Air Force for about 9.5 years, during which time he spent a tour in Afghanistan, Guizar added. He is survived by his 7-year-old son Payton.
A member of Morgan Hill Bible Church, Flood was devoted to his faith and his church.
“He was a hero,” said MH Bible Church Pastor Billy Morin. “He was a true servant, a true friend and a true brother. A lot of the students (at the church) looked up to him.”
Before the packed crowd of friends, family and acquaintances of Flood’s, a handful of those who knew him closely spoke through tears as they remembered the man whose death remained a shock less than 48 hours after the late-night incident in the rear parking lot of the M&H Tavern.
Poster-sized photos of Flood, wearing a wide smile in each image, decked the small stage at the rear of the restaurant’s dining and entertainment area. The Hill staff and friends passed around buckets collecting cash donations for the Wounded Warrior Project and funeral expenses now borne by Flood’s parents and family members.
Among those in attendance were Morgan Hill City Councilmembers Larry Carr and Rich Constantine.
Constantine said the council heard about the death from MHPD Chief David Swing shortly after officers responded to the fatal May 20 incident.
“I’m sorry to hear about any loss of life, especially of someone who was so well-liked, and working in our community,” Constantine said. “Tragedy can touch you when you’re least expecting it.”
Morgan Hill police initially arrested Joseph Haley, 32 of San Jose, in relation to Flood’s death. However, Haley was released from Santa Clara County custody the evening of May 21 because prosecutors with the District Attorney’s office needed more time to review the evidence, Supervising Deputy D.A. Steve Lowney said last week.
Officers responded to the rear parking lot of the Tavern, on the 17300 block of Monterey Road, on a call reporting a man lying on the ground bleeding from his head. Police located the man, later identified as Flood, suffering from major head trauma. He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Police said Flood and Haley had been involved in a physical altercation. Based on witness statements and other evidence including video surveillance of the incident from the Tavern’s security system, investigators identified Haley as the suspect who caused Flood’s injuries and death.
Flood’s friends have also set up a fundraising site at Health Donor to collect donations for funeral and other expenses. The site, coordinated by Guizar and Michael White, has raised $12,000 as of May 26. The site can be found at healthdonor.com/campaigns/johnathansfund/.
“As Christians, we believe that anyone who believes in Jesus and accepts Him as their Lord and Savior will someday join him in Heaven,” reads a message on the site from Flood’s parents, Paul and Pamela Flood.
