MILWAUKEE (WTAQ) - A man beaten to death outside a Milwaukee nightclub early Sunday has been identified as 45-year-old Mariano Lopez.

Media reports said Lopez and a 37-year-old man were leaving a birthday party when they were mugged from behind on the way to their car – and a group of men assaulted them.

The survivor’s wife told WTMJ-TV that he, “got in between his female cousin and an out of control male” – and he almost died because of it.

The attack occurred about 2:30 a.m. Sunday outside the Tropical Latino club on Milwaukee’s south side. Police did not have any suspects at last word.