A New Jersey man died on Easter Sunday after being beaten to death with a bat, according to local police.
Louis Serbeck, 54, died while being transported to the hospital following a fatal confrontation in which his teenage daughter was also assaulted, according to the Columbia County Prosecutor.
According to a news release from the prosecutor’s office, police have arrested 55-year-old Eric Hannah and an unnamed 17-year-old boy on homicide and weapons offense charges.
Prosecutors have identified the minor male only as J.H. He is also charged with aggravated assault.
The confrontation arose from an incident that occurred one day earlier, when the minor male allegedly assaulted Serbeck’s daughter, who has not been identified by prosecutors.
Following the incident, Serbeck and his daughter went to see Hannah on April 20, according to the release.
According to the release, the male teen met Serbeck at the door, and their interaction became physical at some point.
“J.H. is alleged to have struck Serbeck in the head several times with a metal baseball bat,” according to the announcement. “It is further alleged that [Hannah], who was present and joined the fight, struck Serbeck in the back of the head with a metal flashlight.”
According to the release, J.H. “suffered facial injuries,” and he also hit Serbeck’s daughter in the head with a bat.
Officers from the Vineland Police Department responded quickly, as did emergency medical personnel.
After assessing Serbeck’s injuries, EMS transported him to the local hospital in Vineland, where he was airlifted to Cooper Hospital in Camden, about 40 miles north.
Serbeck died en route, according to the release.
A GoFundMe page set up to help Serbeck’s two surviving daughters pay for his funeral services has already raised more than $10,000.
Serbeck is described by the fundraiser’s creator as one of the “bravest, caring, outgoing, warmhearted, funny, and most protective men to be known.”
