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A Monmouth County man previously banned from Atlantic City's Tropicana is now faces several charges in relation to a fight inside The Quarter that went viral.
Damian Pineyro, 35, of Hazelet, was arrested just before 3 a.m. Sunday, after allegedly punching a woman and threatening a man with a knife.
He allegedly punched the woman with the initials A.C. to the ground. Pineyro then turned to a man, who he assaulted before pulling out a knife and lunging at the victim, Capt. Kevin Fair said. The knife did not make contact with the victim, K.N.
While A.C. was on the ground, 47-year-old Keila Diaz started punching and kicking her until the victim lost consciousness, according to the charges.
She was taken to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center's City Campus.
Officers Jose Zamorano and Moustafa Maarouf responded to The Quarter for a fight involving several individuals.
The investigation found that Pineyro began to harass the two victims for an unknown reason. When the two tried to leave, Pineyro attacked the woman and then turned on the man.
But Pineyro was not even supposed to be inside the Tropicana, according to court records.
A citizen complaint filed against him charged him with simple assault in relation to an incident around 5:30 a.m. Nov. 26, 2022. Details of the incident were not available.
Pineyro pleaded to a disorderly persons charge Feb. 23, 2023, which included a two-year ban from the Tropicana.
It was not clear if he would face any additional charges as a result.
Video of a melee in The Quarter was posted to X by Barstool Sports, and had more than 2.4 million views.
NOT THE PIZZA! pic.twitter.com/kDOOB3swbY
Diaz, of Freehold, Monmouth County, is charged with third-degree aggravated assault.
Pineyro is charged with third-degree counts of aggravated assault, terroristic threats and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, along with fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon.
Both were released on summonses.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Atlantic City police at 609-347-5766. Information may also be submitted anonymously to tip411 (847411), beginning the text with ACPD.
