Man Killed In Lodo's Altercation Remembered As Gentle Giant

WESTMINSTER, Colo. (CBS4) - Nearly 200 people attended a candlelight vigil Tuesday night to remember the man killed in a bar altercation.

Sam Pickel was at the Lodo's in Westminster Sunday night when a fight broke out. Police say the altercation began when a woman slapped Pickel, then bouncers got involved, putting him in a chokehold to get him out of the restaurant.

Witnesses say he then lay unconscious for about 10 minutes, and never woke up.

Pickel was rushed to the hospital Sunday night but pronounced dead Tuesday morning.

"He was murdered, he was definitely murdered. There's no need for that," said Pickel's mother. She says her son was non-violent.

His step-father said his son was jumped by bouncers after he was asked to leave the bar.

"I just can't believe that they would attack him like that … especially when he was walking out the door of the place. I think that's all they wanted was for him to leave and that's what he was doing," said his stepfather.

Pickel was a former employee of the bar, and people at the vigil remembered him as a gentle giant.

Westminster police said there is limited video of the altercation. Pickel's family is now asking for other witnesses to come forward.

"Maybe somebody else has something they'd like to share to help us out," said his stepfather.

Police are waiting for the results of an autopsy before they file charges, if any, which could take weeks or months.