Fan stabbed to death near San Francisco ballpark
San Francisco Police Chief Greg Suhr speaks at a news conference in San Francisco, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2013. Police arrested two people in the fatal stabbing of a Los Angeles Dodgers baseball fan during a fight near San Francisco’s AT&T Park after the Giants’ 6-4 win over the Dodgers, Suhr said. AP Photo/Jeff Chiu
SAN FRANCISCO – Police have arrested two people in the fatal stabbing of a Dodgers fan during a fight near a San Francisco baseball stadium after the Giants defeated the Dodgers 6-4, authorities said Thursday.
San Francisco Police Chief Greg Suhr did not provide additional details about the arrests. He told the San Francisco Chronicle earlier that was a Dodgers fan and was wearing Dodgers gear.
The Medical Examiner’s office has identified the victim as Jonathan Denver, 24. It was not clear whether the victim’s gear played a role in the Wednesday night attack. The Giants and Dodgers are longtime division rivals. The Giants are the defending World Series champions. But this year, the Dodgers won the division while the Giants were set to miss the playoffs.
Police said the stabbing occurred shortly after 11:30 p.m. on a street corner during a confrontation between two groups of men.
It was not clear whether the victim’s gear played a role in the Wednesday night attack. The Giants and Dodgers are longtime division rivals.
She said police were not disclosing additional information, including whether the fight involved rival fans. Giants’ spokeswoman Staci Slaughter said she did not have additional information about the incident, but wanted to emphasize that the stabbing took place several blocks away from the stadium.
The violence comes just three days after a teenage football fan was attacked at San Francisco’s Candlestick Park during the San Francisco 49ers 27-7 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. Other violence broke out at the game on Sunday despite an increase in security. The stadium was also the site of two shootings, beatings and fights during a preseason game two years ago.
Stadium security and fan behavior also came under scrutiny when another Dodgers-Giants matchup saw a paramedic severely beaten. Bryan Stow, a Giants fan, suffered a traumatic brain injury after a beating by two men dressed in Dodgers gear following the March 31, 2011, home opener between the teams.
