LORAIN — A 32-year-old Lorain man involved in a fight outside a Lorain bar early Sunday morning died, although officials aren’t sure yet if his death is a result of the fight.

Eric Witcher was one of more than a dozen people involved in a fight outside of Luna Del Mar, 2156 E. 28th St., just before 1:30 a.m. Sunday.

Less than an hour later, police and LifeCare were called to his Marshall Avenue apartment where he was unresponsive. He was taken to Community Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

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Lorain County Coroner Paul Matus said the preliminary autopsy has been completed, but a microscopic examination still has to be done. He hasn’t ruled on cause of death yet. Matus did say there was an absence of serious visible wounds on Witcher’s body.

A phone call to Witcher’s girlfriend was not returned on Monday.

“We’re continuing to investigate it and, combined with the results of the coroner’s report, we’ll know what kind of case we’re dealing with,” said police Sgt. Mark Carpentiere.

The exact number of people involved in the fight is unknown as people began scattering when police arrived, Carpentiere said, adding police have at least 12 names of people involved so far.

Witnesses in the area and coming out of the bar claimed not to know anything about a fight, according to a police report.

However, “a bar stool that was laying to the side of the road and a broken bottle in the roadway” were found after the area was cleared, police said.

“It should be mentioned next to the shattered bottle was a small puddle of blood,” the report said. “Furthermore, along side of the curb was a pool stick and blood could be observed on that as well. It was apparent that a fight had occurred, however no victim was located.”

Police talked to bar employees after finding the bar stool, pool cue and broken bottle, but staff members said only a fight started inside the bar and the crowd pushed its way outside.

Matus said Witcher hadn’t been shot or stabbed. He said it will be at least a couple more days until he’s able to determine cause of death.

Contact Alicia Castelli at 329-7144 or acastelli@chroniclet.com.

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