Warrant issued in brutal pizza attack
Snapshot of surveillance footage of incident.
Austin police have issued an arrest warrant for an aggravated assault suspect in a brutal attack last month at a pizza stand downtown.
Police say 28-year-old Lambert Borgardt, a Temple resident, attacked two men shortly after midnight on Sept. 22 at the Roppolo’s Pizzeria trailer on Fourth and Colorado streets.
Victim Andrew Oppleman, 49, says he was waiting in line to get pizza when Borgardt attacked his friend. When Oppleman tried to intervene, Borgardt turned on him, punching him in the face and mouth, knocking out five teeth.
Officers later released footage of the incident from a surveillance camera. Tips from that tape led detectives to identify the suspect as Borgardt.
Detective Jason Barto with APD said Friday he was able to reach Borgardt on the phone, who told him he was involved but that his actions were in self defense. Borgardt told the detective he is in the process of obtaining an attorney.
While there is a warrant out for his arrest, Borgardt is not currently in custody.
Shortly after the incident occurred, Oppleman told YNN he believes he was assaulted because he was gay. The attack occurred during PRIDE weekend downtown.
Barto said he is in talks with the district attorney’s office about whether or not the incident should be pursued as a hate crime, but ultimately it is the court’s decision.