Doorman testifies in nightclub slaying

Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2005 | 9:23 a.m.

The doorman of the Sand Dollar Blues nightclub testified Monday that the Aug. 1 fatal shooting in the club's parking lot was the result of drunken horseplay between two men who had earlier been hugging and professing their love for one another.

Ernst Matscheko is charged with murder in connection with the death of Rene Gilberto Sosa, 29, outside the nightclub at 3555 Spring Mountain Road, just west of Interstate 15.

During the first day of what is expected to be a two-day preliminary hearing for Matscheko, Carlos Isac testified that he was cleaning up the bar around 5 a.m. when Matscheko and Sosa came in, sat at the bar and each ordered one drink.

Isac said the two men seemed "happy" and were talking about the Marines and the Army when Matscheko pulled a handgun out from under his shirt and began "showing it off."

Isac said the only other people in the bar at the time were the bartender and one other customer. Isac said he and the bartender told Matscheko to put the gun away and leave. He said Matscheko agreed, and so Isac and the bartender escorted Matscheko and Sosa to their cars.

Matscheko was "pretty intoxicated" and tripped over his sandals as he walked to his car, which prompted Isac to tell him he would call him a taxi, but he refused the offer, Isac said.

Matscheko didn't want a cab but accepted an offer from Sosa to take him home, Isac said. But as Matscheko was getting into the back of Sosa's Jaguar, Sosa said something that upset Matscheko, and Matscheko refused the ride, Isac said.

The doorman said the two men "started arguing in a friendly way, rough housing" before starting to choke each other. Isac said both were saying back and forth to each other "I love you. I love you too, my brother."

Matscheko then pulled his gun out and pointed it at Sosa, Isac said. He said Sosa was "laughing like it was a joke."

The gun's re-emergence prompted Isaac and the bartender to go back into the nightclub, lock the door and call 911. Less than 30 seconds later Isac said he heard two gunshots.

While still on a wireless phone with 911, Isac and the bartender went out the backdoor of the nightclub and peaked around the corner of the building to see Sosa "lying on the ground rolling back and forth," Isac testified.

Isac said he saw Matscheko run to his car and put the gun inside. He said he and the bartender approached Matscheko asking if he had shot Sosa, and he said "yes."

As Isac kept Matscheko against the wall, he said, Matscheko was shaking his head saying, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Call an ambulance."

Sosa died at University Medical Center about eight hours after the shooting.