Beating of Giants fan 'has no place in our society,' L.A., S.F. leaders say in joint statement

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck and other top officials released a joint statement calling the severe beating of a Giants fan at the Dodgers' home opener "unconscionable" and has "no place in our society and certainly not in our national pastime."

The statement comes as police continue to look for suspects in the Thursday night attack, which left a Santa Cruz paramedic in a coma.

"Baseball is a family sport that has unified our country after times of crisis and tragedy. This senseless act of violence has no place in our society and certainly not in our national pastime," said the statement from Villaraigosa, Beck, San Francisco Mayor Edwin M. Lee, San Francisco Police interim Chief Jeff Godown, Giants managing partner Bill Neukom and Dodgers owner Frank McCourt.

A $10,000 reward has been issued for information leading to the arrest of the suspects, who were wearing Dodger outfits.

Bryan Stow, 42, hit his head on the pavement during the attack and is in a medically induced coma. He has two children.

The LAPD released sketches of two suspects in the attack.

LAPD Sgt. Sanford Rosenberg, watch commander at the Northeast Station,  said the victim was one of three Giants fans who were attacked in the parking lot by the two men wearing Dodgers clothing. The apparently unprovoked attack occurred about 8:30 p.m. in Parking Lot 2 when two men approached three victims in Giants apparel.

The two men attacked the three victims, kicking and punching them and shouting expletives about the Giants as they delivered the blows, Rosenberg said.

The incident was witnessed by several fans, he said. The assailants fled as people tried to assist the injured man, he said. Police said the incident was captured on security-camera video, and witnesses have provided details about the assailants, including a distinctive tattoo.

The statement, released by Major League Baseball, continues:

"The Giant/Dodger rivalry is one of the most storied in all of sports, dating back to when the teams played across town in New York City before their moves to California. This is a great rivalry between teams competing on the field of play. That's where it must stay.

"We call on our respective citizens to stand together in honor of that rivalry as you have done throughout the years. Root hard for your teams, and do so with civility and common decency.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim, Bryan Stow, and his family. The best thing that we as a community of baseball fans can do to support Bryan and his family is to rise above this outrageous act and exercise good sportsmanship and mutual respect for each other."

RELATED:

Simers: Dodgers can't ignore safety issue

-- Richard Winton and Shelby Grad

Sketch: Police drawings of the beating suspects in frame grab from KTLA. Credit: Los Angeles Police Department

 

Comments

[Paula]

I am sure those guys were wearing that Los Doyers crap that the McCourts are so agressively pursuing. I am not surprised at all that this happened. Villaraigosa courts illegal aliens and encourages their separatist attitudes, Dodgers owners are encouraging ethnic this and that at games instead of just having a baseball game. I would love to see the security director fired - no extra security during a Giants visit? - and I hope the injured fan sues the Dodgers for as much as he can get.

[Chris L]

Keep it classy, LA.

[futomake]

No, the best thing you can do is find these thugs and throw the book at them. Hopefully in prison they will receive like treatment.

[John Doe]

The guy on the Left look familar about a 3 months ago, I was at HomeTown Buffet resturant near cross street Grand and Pipeline, in Chino Area. I almost go in a dispute with this guy, he is very violent and angry type of person, I was gettin the car with my mother, and his car was next to mine, all of sudden he start cursing me out in Spanish he was about to attack lucky he backed off cuz my mother threathen him that she will call the police. He is very violent and dangerous and must be put behind bars quickly as possible

[Tom, Long Beach, California]

yes, prison and then deportation.....

[Gary Larand Hammontree]

This is abhorrent. Anyone that knows these thugs should report them immediately. In the "land of the free and the home of the brave," a country that welcomes all, behavior such as this is totally unacceptable. Prison is too good for anyone that would do this to another, for whatever reason.

[Mark]

you mean to tell me that they have no security camera(s) anywhere in the parking lot?

[Doug]

With all the witnesses they had, LAPD still can't find these thugs? Didn't anyone see them get into a car and leave? Unbelievable!

[Ruben N.]

Unfortunately, this is one of the reasons I don't go to Dodger games. Too many thuggish menacing looking people for me. I think some of them are frustrated Raider fans.

[SUSY]

I HOPE THESE GUYS ROT IN JAIL. AND THEY GET A BEATING LIKE THIS AS WELL.

[arty]

If the city can't control the baseball games what makes them think they will be able to control the crowd at a full fledge NFL game? I think the city is way over it's head and should abandon any hopes for an NFL team in the downtown area.

[skyharbor]

The root of the tragic violence at Dodger Stadium lies within the Dodger's organization. They have had sufficient warning and time to develop an effective system to control criminal behavior that has permeated Dodger Stadium and threatens fan safety. Instead, Frank McCourt and the Dodgers are eroding fan safety and enjoyment at the ballpark for monetary gain. Recently announced promotions include half price alcoholic beverages and a new partnership with a Tequila company. Frank McCourt has avoided scrutiny of these dangerous business practices by providing gratuities to the Mayor and the LAPD through the Police Protective League with over $1,000,000 in free Dodger tickets in 2010 alone. There is an urgent need for a comprehensive investigation into Dodger practices by an independent agency such as the ABC or Attorney General who is already investigating the Dodgers for other questionable business practices.

Fans must cooperate for sure but the solution is to reign in the reckless business practices of Frank McCourt who has created an environment promoting alcohol driven unruliness inside and outside of Dodger Stadium. Left unchecked the community will suffer immeasurably.

[Jerry]

Dodger fans have left, now you have Raider Fans at the Dodger games, 90 percent of the old Dodger fans are either watching the games on TV or have become Angel Fans. No person with an IQ over 80 would attend a Dodger game. Soon we will be saying the same thing about the Angels Fans, new owner Artie wants to bring in the gang bangers also, changing the name to LA, lowering beer prices, heavy marketing to the latino crowd. Do what I and so many others have done, become a Hockey Fan.

[ugg]

Not to much of a surprise. People don't respect our laws. People steal cable/satalite TV, music off the computer, don't pay for group registration fees at local parks, welfare, food stamps, beating cars with baseball bats and any thing else they can get their hands on or get away with. There are NO consequences. It is hard to believe there even IS a law against driving while using a cell phone. Laws are a joke to people. Granted some of them are lame. But when adults don't follow them how can we expect our children to follow them. And then you get people beating each other up because of a baseball game. Welcome to the lawless land of California. We are the wild west. It is sad. Very very sad....

[Jenny Shiny]

Funny how there's no statement from the Dodger organization. Can someone please check their PR dept for a heartbeat?

[Dodger fan]

I hope they catch these criminals. These guys aren't sports fans they're gang bangers. What a senseless cowardly act. I hope Dodger Stadium will beef up security and hopefully place cameras in the parking lot.

[skyharbor]

The root of the tragic violence at Dodger Stadium lies within the Dodger's organization. They have had sufficient warning and time to develop an effective system to control criminal behavior that has permeated Dodger Stadium and threatens fan safety. Instead, Frank McCourt and the Dodgers are eroding fan safety and enjoyment at the ballpark for monetary gain. Recently announced promotions include half price alcoholic beverages and a new partnership with a Tequila company. Frank McCourt has avoided scrutiny of these dangerous business practices by providing gratuities to the Mayor and the LAPD through the Police Protective League with over $1,000,000 in free Dodger tickets in 2010 alone. There is an urgent need for a comprehensive investigation into Dodger practices by an independent agency such as the ABC or Attorney General who is already investigating the Dodgers for other questionable business practices.

Fans must cooperate for sure but the solution is to reign in the reckless business practices of Frank McCourt who has created an environment promoting alcohol driven unruliness inside and outside of Dodger Stadium. Left unchecked the community will suffer immeasurably.

[Art Solis]

Maybe it would help if your reporters stopped referring to the "Hated Giants." I have been following sports a number of years and I don't hate any other team. The other teams are made up of young boys and young men. I watch sports for competition, not because I hate anyone.

Arthur M. Solis
Burbank

[Marcy]

Over SPORTS teams? Ugh. Absolutely revolting. I seriously cannot understand how anyone claiming to be a rational human being, could ever get worked up over sports to the point that they would physically attack someone. Talk about idiotic. Hopefully they are located, arrested, tried and convicted for attempted murder, and spend a suitable amount of time in prison. I also hope the victim makes a full recovery.

[Say Hey Kid]

Saw Mc Court on TV yesterday saying "our security is fine"
what an Idiot.

[Scott Martin-Rowe]

For guys who like Dodger Blue, they'll be wearing prison jumpsuit orange pretty soon.

[bmedic]

I am so sick of ignorant sports fans. The rioting after lakers games, this incident here, the stabbings at Raiders games, when is it ever going to stop? When are these people going to grow up???? Ignorance is going to be the demise of our country!

[ju]

He shouldn't have been talking smack.

[Fernando]

Let LAPD do their job, deport illegals, use excessive force, etc and Dodger Stadium will become a safe place once again for families.

[BoxingFan213]

I always witness fights at Dodger games, i am not surprised this happened specially to a weak frisco fan. The best fight i witnessed was an Angels fan getting the crap beat out of him, get over it, lucky he didn't get shot.