NEW ORLEANS -- Friends and family of a New Orleans bartender are concerned about his sudden death during Southern Decadence weekend.
Danny Bettencourt died early Monday morning inside a popular Bourbon Street nightclub. The circumstances of his death are still under investigation, but loved ones suspect foul play.
"I know when he left my residence, he was coherent, he was walking, he was talking and things were normal," said Todd Seal, a friend of Bettencourt.
As Southern Decadence weekend rolled into its third day, Bettencourt decided to swing by OZ nightclub on Bourbon Street. He wouldn't survive the night.
"Danny's got three children and he died. He passed away on his youngest son's birthday. So, it's a sad situation," said Seal.
Both New Orleans police and EMS confirm they responded to a medical call at 4:20 a.m. inside OZ.
Emergency responders found an "unresponsive" man lying on the ground surrounded by "friends" who told police Bettencourt became "very irate" and was "restrained" until police officers arrived.
Friends of Bettencourt say he was dropped off around 3 a.m. at the club, and then about 2.5 hours later was pronounced dead at the hospital.
"Danny, he always had a smile on his face. We always use to joke around all the time. The right thing needs to be done," said Derek Galose.
But these two friends say reports from eyewitnesses and employees inside the club paint a different picture. They'd like New Orleans police to look into any signs of possible foul play.
"The story that we're hearing is that our friend Danny, a former employee of that bar room, was placed in a headlock by his former coworkers, until he was lifeless on the bar room floor," said Seal.
The Orleans Parish Coroner's Office tells Eyewitness News preliminary autopsy results reveal "no gross anatomical signs of trauma but did reveal a potential cardiac abnormality." Coroner Dr. Rouse confirms he is waiting on medical and toxicology tests.
In the meantime, there's a plea from those who called Bettencourt a dear friend.
"We're hoping that more folks come forward and join the others who saw and witnessed what happened, so this goes down correctly," said Seal.
OZ manager and partner Madeline Schwartz confirms Bettencourt was a former employee of OZ who was let go on Friday. She said before his death, he's seen on surveillance video entering a bathroom, but said the actual incident was not in the line of any security cameras at the club.
The coroner's office is still investigating this death case and the NOPD says its waiting on the results of an official autopsy.
