FOXBOROUGH, MA— A man who died at a New England Patriots home game last weekend was punched in the head at least twice during a fight with an opposing fan in the stands, a witness said Tuesday.
The Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office said in a statement Monday that police and security responded to the upper level of Gillette Stadium shortly before 11 p.m. Sunday and found Dale Mooney, 53, of Newmarket, N.H. “Clearly requiring medical attention.”
Mooney was taken to a hospital where he was later pronounced dead. Massachusetts State Police are investigating what the district attorney calls an “incident” at the stadium.
Witness Joey Kilmartin captured video of what he said was a brutal fight.
Kilmartin said in interviews with multiple local media outlets that he saw Mooney, a Patriots fan, confronting a Miami Dolphins fan. Mooney argued with the fan for much of the game, which the Dolphins won. .
“He was basically fighting with another fan,” Kilmartin told The Boston Globe. “A number of people started trying to pull them apart…it looked like there was someone in the middle of them and then a man wearing a Dolphins jersey reached over and punched the victim twice in the head.
“It wasn’t anything crazy or unusual, until 30 seconds later, the guy never got back up.”
Autopsy results are expected this week, a spokesman for the district attorney’s office said.
Mooney’s wife, Lisa Mooney, said she felt numb and wanted to know how her husband died.
“I just can’t believe this is happening,” she told WCVB-TV. “I want to know what happened. What caused it?”
Gillette Stadium officials said they were “heartbroken” by the death of Mooney, who they described as a lifelong Patriots fan and 30-year season ticket member.
“We will continue to work with local authorities and assist them with their ongoing investigations,” the statement said. “We extend our sincerest sympathies and heartfelt condolences to Dale’s family and all who mourn his loss.”
Fan violence at sporting events, especially between opponents’ supporters, is a long-standing problem. One of the most notorious incidents was the 2011 beating of paramedic and San Francisco Giants fan Bryan Stow in the Dodger Stadium parking lot.
Two Los Angeles Dodgers fans beat Stowe, who fell to the sidewalk with a serious head injury. When a jury found the team was negligent, he was awarded about $14 million. The attacker was jailed.
