A New Jersey bodybuilder was battered to death after a conversation with his daughter’s alleged attacker and his father erupted in violence.
Louis ‘Gus’ Serbeck, 54, of Millville, was known by loved ones as a protective father who adored his two grown children.
So, he did not hesitate to defend his younger daughter, Brooke Serbeck, 19, when she claimed she was assaulted by a 17-year-old in his Vineland home on April 19.
Serbeck and Brooke went to speak with the alleged assailant, named by authorities as JH, and his father, Eric Hannah, 54, on Easter Sunday.
But instead of the conversation they were expecting, the pair was greeted with brutality – costing Serbeck his life.
Chaos first broke out between Serbeck and JH when they starting fighting in front of the house, according to the Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office.
JH then grabbed a metal baseball bat and relentlessly bashed Serbeck’s head as Brooke watched in horror, authorities said.
Hannah joined the brawl to back up his son, using a hard metal flashlight as his weapon of choice to continue obliterating Serbeck’s face.
Louis ‘Gus’ Serbeck, 54, (pictured) of Millville, was known by loved ones as a protective father who adored his two daughters
Eric Hannah, 54, (pictured) has been hit with murder and weapons charges after allegedly beating Serbeck to death
At one point, JH reportedly hit Brooke’s head as well. It is unclear if he used his hands or the bat.
When Vineland police and emergency services finally arrived to the gory scene, they found Serbeck in critical condition.
He tragically died on his way to the hospital.
JH, who sustained injuries to his face, and Hannah were arrested and charged with homicide and weapons offenses.
The teen was hit with additional aggravated assault charges for allegedly striking Brooke during the altercation.
Christopher Serbeck, the victim’s brother, claimed Hannah was a ‘lifelong friend of the family,’ making matters abundantly worse, ABC reported.
Hannah is being held in Cumberland County Jail and his son is in a juvenile detention center, according to the county prosecutor’s office.
Serbeck’s family has been left to mourn their unexpected loss, describing the circumstances of his death as heroic.
Brooke Serbeck, 19, (pictured) and her father drove to her alleged attacker’s home to speak with him and his father
Brooke (left) and her father (right) had a close relationship, as he was known as a protective and loving parent
‘He literally laid his life down for his daughter,’ Christopher told ABC of his brother.
‘He would do anything for anyone. He would take the shirt off his back and give it to you, just cause you needed it. You call him, he’ll be there.’
‘Gus will live on immortally through his many accomplishments. The story of his death, is just one more myth that will define his Legendary life,’ his obituary reads.
Serbeck has been described as an outdoors-lover and a skilled craftsman and carpenter. Above all, he cherished his family.
‘Gus was a very fierce protector, and if you were at odds with Gus or wronged him, his family or friends in any way, you were in for a rough time,’ his family wrote.
Despite his tough as nails reputation, Serbeck had a soft spot for his kids and two grandchildren from his older daughter, Summer Howe.
‘He was never happier than when he had one of his daughters in his arms sharing a big smiling cheek-to-cheek hug,’ according to the obit.
A GoFundMe created to ‘cover the costs of whatever his daughters & family may need’ has raised nearly $11,000. Serbeck’s funeral was on April 26.
Serbeck (pictured with one of his young daughters) was ‘was never happier than when he had one of his daughters in his arms’
The nature of the April 19 incident between Brooke and JH that led Serbeck to confront the Hannahs remains unclear.
Cumberland County Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae told DailyMail.com she could not elaborate beyond her office’s public statement.
DailyMail.com has reached out to the Vineland Police Department for more information.
