Following a Saturday-morning confrontation with a bouncer outside a Denver strip club, Pechanga Tribal Council leader Gabriel Pico reportedly died of a heart attack Monday evening.

According to the Rocky Mountain News, Pico was in Denver to attend the Democratic National Convention when he became involved in what police called a “physical altercation” with security outside the Diamond Cabaret at 2 a.m. Saturday.

Pico was taken to Denver Health Medical Center; he was pronounced dead just before 8 p.m. Monday, the newspaper said.

An autopsy is being conducted to determine the cause of death.

The Pechanga Tribal Council has released a statement saying that Pico suffered a heart attack early Saturday.

Pico was elected to his first term in July.

He is survived by three daughters, two sons, one grandson, six siblings, his mother and several nieces and nephews. Pico’s late father, Gabriel “Gibby” Pico, was Pechanga’s tribal chairman in the mid-’80s.

“This is a big loss for our tribe,” chairman Mark Macarro said in the council release. “Though Gabe had only been in office a few weeks, it was evident that he was a tremendous asset to the council and the tribe. He will be missed dearly.”

– posted at 3:01 p.m. by Cathy Maestri

Filed under Headline

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Not working? Click here!