Two men charged in fatal 2014 Maplewood bar fight

Two St. Paul men were charged Thursday with murdering a man nearly a year ago.

Ronald D. Smaller and Brandon J. Smith, both 24, were charged in Ramsey County District Court with two counts each of second-degree murder without intent.

Smaller and Smith are charged with beating Eduardo Alberto Figueroa, 40, so severely on Nov. 11, 2014 — Figueroa's birthday — that he died about 1 a.m. on Nov. 12.

Figueroa had declined medical attention at the scene of the attack at Freddy's Tikki Hut in Maplewood, and died at this home in St. Paul.

According to the complaint: Figueroa was celebrating his birthday with his daughter. Smaller, Smith and a woman entered the bar.

Witnesses told police that Smaller was yelling into a phone. A band playing nearby asked him to quiet down. Smaller continued yelling, so the bar owner and Figueroa to ask him to quiet down.

The bar owner and Figueroa then tried to escort Smaller's group out. Smith argued with Figueroa. Smaller and the woman appeared to exit, but immediately returned. The woman grabbed Figueroa's daughter's hair.

Smith stomped on and Smaller kicked Figueroa's head as they left the bar, the complaint said.

Figueroa told police he wanted to go home, where he later died.

Figueroa, who had heart disease, died of fatal cardiac arrhythmia due to the assault. He suffered multiple traumatic injuries to his face, and had multiple rib fractures.