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

[Kim Greene]

This is what Dodger baseball has turned into in the pavillion seating areas..a bunch of drunk gang members who prove their manhood by bullying others. Its encouraged by the same people who released the statement - Charlie Beck turns a blind eye to the drunks, especially if they are gang members because he doesn't want to be perceived as politically incorrect because being politically incorrect is so much worse than actually doing your job. And the Mayor is a baffoon, an embarrassment who insists on protecting these gang members. This kind of thing doesn't happen at King games because hockey doesn't attract this type of bully. This type of bully likes cheap beer (cheap in quality not in price) and unwitting participants. This kind of bully will soon turn walking to your car after a Dodger game to the "fun" it was to try and make it home from Raider football. These thugs are condoned in Los Angeles and always have been. This isn't Dodger Stadium's fault, its the mentality in Los Angeles government that anybody of a specific ethnic background should be allowed to act whatever way they want regardless of its legality.

[Bill jablonski]

Only last week in the L.A. Times was there a great article of transit via Metro & Bus to go to a Dodgers game from Covina/Baldwin Park. I thought /began to save some change for a future game. Reading of this atrocity has seriously made me think twice of visiting the park. Not being able to defend myself as what was before from 13 months ago it will take long serious thought.
I read aboat the lack of waterfountains at Dodger Stadium yet lack of video survielance of the park/security tells me changes are to be made for the fans;I hope that happens.

[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....

[kkennedy]

Dodgers offer platitudes
Where is the Dodgers reward for info on the thugs who attacked this man? LA COUNTY is the only entity that stepped forward to act. the Dodger corporation owns this property they must solve this and deter future acts by thugs with their actions now.
All corporate sponsors, luxury box holders, and decent fans must send a message to the Dodgers this is not going to be tolerated. BOYCOTT the dodgers home games until they resolve the thug issue.
All decent people refuse to attend Dodger games, refuse to purchase season tickets until the climate and culture of the thug fans is eliminated at Dodger Stadium.

[jenn562]

It's getting harder to tell the difference between Dodger fans and Raider fans. Dodger stadium has been over run by the gang banger element and the if Frank McCourt truly cared about baseball and "family entertainment" as he proclaims he would have more policing in the parking lot where the thugs are boozing it up before games. It's also time to limit entry to anyone who is intoxicated and cut off alcohol sales earlier.

[paloma]

no doubt, they came From prison at some time, lock them back up!

[CQ]

This is more of a Hate Crime. Not a Dodger fan VS. Giants fan. Lets get that staight.

[kuruc]

well then get these perps OUT of society, permanently or shut up!

[LostAnglrs]

GANG BANGERS... 'has no place in our society'.

Thats more accurate. But will they go to that extent and say it like it truly is? No. And will the culture that breeds these types stop or change the way they support these types? No.

These are the types of people, if you can call them that, that are and have been like a cancer in our society. And nothing you can do will stop it and the people that can actually change or diminish, stop these generational gang bangers from developing won't stop it. Its part of their culture.

I have stopped being a Lakers fan and any LA sports fan after I noticed a gang member, thug culture pervade sports.

It happened years ago for some reason with the LA Raiders. Even when they left, the logo of the Pirate and colors were all adapted by Mexican/Chicano gang bangers and became like this strange, twisted thing having to do with "Brown Pride".

Then as evident from riots and the pervasive gang and thug crowd pervading Lakers fans and after Laker wins, something has gone on.

Will even the sports figures come out and say anything against this thug-life thing being adapted, or their sports names, the whole dress and thuggery that has become part of local sports (if not in part, nationally), will Kobe for example, say anything against that? No of course not. It will affect ticket sales and his wife is Mexican American, she would be affected.

Cholo's are part of mexican culture. Gang bangers are a generational thing that gets passed around. The only people that can change that, the parents, the families will not do it. Its part of some twisted pride.

And the rest of latino's from other countries unfairly get clumped in with that crowd and we have to fight to show that we also do NOT tolerate it. Boy do I have stories of what non-Mexicans have done to curtail the sickness, the cancer...

These official statements from LA/SF leaders will fall on deaf ears.

Its become that families don't take their kids to sports games, arena's, because of the pervasive thuggery that even non-gangbangers adapt because its now become PART OF the sports culture. Sports isn't family oriented anymore? Its a DUB convention of hostile intimidation and down right dangerous environment.

What can you do at Dodger stadium or Staples? More police as a band aid at least before a kid or child or regular mother, father get hurt or worse.

[JD]

Hey LA Times - where the heck is a description of the "distinctive tattoo"????

[riskm]

It's time you get rid of all the sanctuary citys and close our borders.

[DodgerFan]

Ok I went to the game the next day on Friday..it seemed to me like I was in the SF section..they were making alot of noise..yelling out stuff some were families..some were young kids..It's cool support your team..But REMEBER that there is beer..and people are yelling Dodgers suck! Giants suck!..If I went to SF i would'nt try and act all crazy like some of the SF Fans..C'mon there is also criminal element that goes to these games...Surely someone is going to feel disrespected..I'm not saying this guy that is in a coma was..but this rivalry goes back to like the 80's..Northern Caly Has NO love for Southern Caly and vice versa..in ANY sport! and that the Truth! I coached lil league Giants and got heat when I would wear the uniform..i would simply say "hey..I coach lil league..I'm not no SF fan!" Some people are too caught up in sports..they should remeber what was said in the movie " The Bonx Tale" When you have no money and are struggling go ask " any team, any player, any sport" they don't care and won't bust a grape for you..NO body cares..It's just entertainment..that's it..Peace!

[Ken Sobel]

This certainly has no place in our society, but are the perpetrators part of our society or illegal invaders? We won't know until they're apprehended. Then, our mayor will praise them as people who want to make a better life for themselves (by breaking our laws.

[Ken Sobel]

This certainly has no place in our society, but are the perpetrators part of our society or illegal invaders? We won't know until they're apprehended. Then, our mayor will praise them as people who want to make a better life for themselves (by breaking our laws.

[jake]

No place in our society. Gimme a break. The thug culture permeates Dodger games. There's a reason families don't feel safe going to Dodgers games. There's a reason families drive past Dodgers Stadium going to Anaheim for baseball games.

The Dodgers have marketed themselves to gangbangers for years and this is what they've gotten them. Beat downs in the parking lots, dozens at games, the only people who feel safe at the games are a bunch of thuggy guy who have nothing better to do on a workday afternoon than get drunk at a baseball game. I worked for a company that had season tickets- good season tickets, then things started to change with the Dodgers. The season tickets weren't a big perk, people no longer wanted to go, people didn't feel safe. Now no more season tickets and no one cares. Good thing, surely after a beating no one's going to want to go.

[Rosie]

I personally think that these pics should be posted in EVERY gas station and 7-11 (only because there are so many) throughout L.A., Orange and San Bernardino counties. plaster their faces everywhere, along with what they did. I hope our good citizens outnumber the bad.

[link]

common decency? What's that?

[link]

Common decency? Never happen.

[Barbara]

Hang 'em high!

[Rick Jones]

Typical LA trash.

[phil]

my days of going to Dodger Stadium are over. I'll spend my dollars at Angel Stadium or I'll watch on TV. I went to a couple games late last year and we did not feel safe at any time.

[Jose Menendez]

If you have a hatred for the opposing team that is so deeply routed, and you feel that you must inflict physical harm on someone, you should be also be banned from attending sporting events for life - in addition to the punishment you should receive from law enforcement for commiting this type of senseless and violent act. This was the ultimate act of cowardness, and will only acheive the exact opposite of their twisted purpose. The very man who would unconditionally help these idiots in a time of need was beaten. I am praying for the man to recover. I am praying for anyone who witnessed this act to come forward and help. We as the fans of Baseball, across the nation, must never let this happen again.

[Lakay Inyung]

"Fans" like these are the same ones that riot during the Lakers championship and caused the Staples Center to be closed during away Finals games, the only time people without season tickets could get into the Staples Center and "watch" a Lakers game.

[TexasForever]

Right......as long as all of our cities are still SANTUARY cities!
Hyprocrites!

[Jean]

People people, these are not illegals doing this, it's the people of Los Angeles. YOU have taken the power away from the Police. If they use force you cry Police Brutality. Back in time when Police force was used, you didn't have these senseless crimes against innocent people. The common Thug was afraid of getting the crap beaten out of him by the cops. Now they spit in the cops faces, throw bottles of urine at the cops and you sit by and think this is ok. They are cops and should be able to handle this. Let the Cops do their job and shut your mouth. And you will see peace and order again in the city.
All sporting events have gotten out of hand with the violence. It is no longer safe to take your families to these games. I think they should be boycotted until these thugs are severly punished!