Barney's Beanery Beating Suspect Pleads Not Guilty To Attempted Murder

WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA — A man accused of severely beating a longtime valet at Barney's Beanery pleaded not guilty Thursday to attempted murder and other charges.

Dorian Michael Gray, 28, pleaded not guilty to one felony count each of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury, and two felony counts each of aggravated mayhem and battery with serious bodily injury, along with two misdemeanor battery counts, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

Authorities said they believe Gray may have also carried out at least four other assaults nearby within 20 minutes. The injuries in those attacks were not as severe, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Gray was arrested last Friday and remains behind bars in lieu of $3.255 million bail, jail records show.

Gray is accused of attacking Efrain "Frankie" Zarazua at around 10:30 p.m. on Sept. 14 outside Barney's Beanery on Santa Monica Boulevard.

"The victim was punched and he was knocked unconscious when he hit the ground, hit his head on the ground," sheriff's Detective Brandon Zeff told reporters Tuesday morning, when authorities publicly identified Gray as the suspect. "And then the suspect kicked the victim approximately seven times in the upper torso and in the head. Witnesses described him as also stomping on the victim's head during that incident."

Zarazua — who suffered from head injuries, brain swelling and a broken cheekbone — was released from an intensive care unit about two weeks after the attack, his family wrote on a GoFundMe page set up to support his recovery.

"Frankie is back home, but still has a long way to recovery. Due to his brain injury, he still has frequent moments of amnesia, and for that he has to have rehab and 24/7 constant care. We don’t know how long he’s going to need rehab for him to be back to his happy, friendly self again," his wife, Irma Zarazua wrote.

Zarazua worked to Barney's for over 30 years and a well-known fixture among the bar's regulars, his family wrote, referring to him as the establishment's "famous valet guy."

City News Service contributed to this report.