It has been 17 days since Brandon D’Annunzio, a 24-year-old Livonia resident, was assaulted outside an East Lansing bar, and seven since he died at Lansing’s Sparrow Hospital.
During a press conference at the East Lansing police station Tuesday, Brandon’s father, Dennis D’Annunzio, said the reward in the case has soared from the original $500 to $10,000, including a $500 donation from BW-3, 220 M.A.C. Ave.
“If this is what it takes, I’d be glad to hand (the money) out,” D’Annunzio said. “I can spare the few extra pennies it will take to see this thing out.
“It gets a little easier every day but it never gets any better,” D’Annunzio said. “Losing a loved one is terrible but losing your only child is really tough. What I’m really asking is for someone to come forward and do the right thing.”
East Lansing police Chief Louis Muhn agreed that those who come forward as witnesses to the attack are doing the humane thing.
“We have a duty to society to come forward and not just leave it all up to the police department,” he said. “If we don’t, what kind of society are we going to have?”
Three sketches of individuals wanted for questioning in the incident - two men and a woman - have been released during the past week.
The investigation has spread into Evanston, Ill. and Big Rapids, Mich. this week in hopes of tracking down those responsible.
“All we want to do is get down to the truth of what happened,” East Lansing police Detective Lt. Lance Langdon said. “Right now these people are only wanted for questioning.”
Dennis D’Annunzio said while he wants his son’s attackers brought to justice, he doesn’t necessarily want them severely punished.
“If he’s just a guy who made one mistake that ended up costing my son his life, I don’t want to see the book thrown at him,” he said. “Of course if he wasn’t in that situation then it changes everything.”
Brandon D’Annunzio was in town Oct. 1 for a friend’s bachelor party and was involved in an argument with a female early in the evening while waiting in line at The Riviera Café Restaurant & Lounge, 231 M.A.C. Ave., police said.
Later that night, D’Annunzio was separated from his friends outside BW-3 and became sick. A group of five men and two women then approached him and one of the men assaulted him, a witness told police.
D’Annunzio had been in a medically induced coma for three days after the assault in an effort to reduce swelling in his brain. He was removed from life support last Wednesday.
D’Annunzio will be buried Saturday. His friends and family will be holding a memorial service from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Santieu Brothers in Garden City. Any friends of Brandon’s are welcome to attend.
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call the East Lansing Police Department at 337-2599 or the East Lansing tip line at 1-877-ELPD-TIP.
