NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — The 61-year-old bouncer who was knocked out outside a Chelsea bar early on Christmas Eve has died, police said Monday.
Duane Patterson was working in front of Billymark's West Bar on Ninth Avenue near 29th Street around 3 a.m. when he was punched in the face with a closed fist, knocking him to the ground and causing him to hit his head.
The bar owner told WABC 7 that the assault happened during closing time when the attacker tried to come in as other patrons were leaving.
Patterson suffered a skull fracture and brain damage. He remained in a coma for four days before succumbing to his injuries.
Police have released surveillance video and images of the man being sought for the deadly blow.
"They couldn't relieve the pressure," Patterson's widow, Melissa Buchholz, told the outlet. "He couldn't come back to us. He couldn't come out of the coma. It was awful. It was awful."
Patterson, who served eight years as a staff sergeant in the Air Force, leaves behind his wife of 26 years, their daughter and devastated customers.
"Duane was a special man," customer John Campbell said. "He had a gift from God to make weird people like me feel comfortable."
A GoFundMe page created by his daughter Arianna to help her family with "the expenses of this tragedy" has surpassed its $20,000 target.
In it, she hailed her father as "a strong, honorable person" who was "always quick to make us laugh!"
"We will love you dearly always and forever," she added.
A week after the attack, Patterson's organs were removed for donation.
"We were able to take his kidneys and liver," Buchholz said. "So, one kidney went to his sister."
No arrests have been made. An investigation is ongoing.
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