A 47-year-old man was hospitalized after sustaining injuries in a fight in the Dodger Stadium parking lot after midnight Saturday, according to Los Angeles Police Department officials.
The incident took place early Saturday morning, as fans were exiting Dodger Stadium following Friday’s six-hour, 13-inning game between the Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks. Reportedly, a verbal dispute broke out before the man was punched once and fell to the ground, sustaining serious injuries.
The victim, identified by his wife as Rafael Reyna, was taken to a local hospital, and is on life support as a result of the incident. No arrests have been made, with an investigation ongoing. From the Los Angeles Times:
No arrests have been made and the cause of the fight remains under investigation, [Officer Rosario] Cervantes [of the Los Angeles Police Department] said. It was not known if the game was a factor in the fight.
The suspect is described as a Latino man in his 20s. Police said he may have driven off in a white SUV, possibly a Toyota 4Runner.
In response to the incident, the Dodgers issued the following statement Saturday night, per NBC4:
“Last night, an altercation occurred suddenly between two men who were leaving the stadium. One of the men was injured as a result of the altercation. A witness immediately reported the incident to stadium personnel, and emergency medical technicians were promptly dispatched to provide medical assistance at the scene. The matter is now being investigated by the Los Angeles Police Department, and the Dodgers are cooperating fully with the investigation.”
Saturday’s incident comes eight years after Bryan Stow was attacked by two men in Dodger Stadium’s parking lot in 2011. Stow, a San Francisco Giants fan who was attacked after the Giants faced the Dodgers on Opening Day, survived but was left with permanent disabilities. The Dodgers took steps after the incident to enhance security outside the ballpark. In 2014, Stow won an $18-million verdict against the Dodgers and his attackers.