(UnitedVoice.com) – During week two of the NFL season, on Sunday night, September 17, the New England Patriots faced off against the Miami Dolphins at home at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. The Patriots lost the game that day, but that wasn’t the worst thing to happen.
During the game, first responders were called to the stadium’s upper deck around 11 p.m. They found a man in need of attention from medical personnel. He was later identified as 53-year-old Dale Mooney. Emergency workers rushed the man to Sturdy Memorial Hospital, but he later passed away.
According to the local news, witnesses told reporters that Mooney might have been in a fight with another person. That other individual threw a “vicious punch” and knocked the victim out. The witness called it “horrific to watch.” Joe Kilmartin, another witness, also spoke to reporters, saying the victim was hit twice, and he just “slumped over at that point in his seat.”
Video of the incident showed the victim fighting with two Dolphins fans. They had reportedly been taunting the deceased Patriots fan, and a scuffle broke out.
The Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office issued a statement about the incident on September 20. An autopsy identified the victim had “a medical issue.” There were no traumatic injuries found on the victim. The cause of death is still “pending further testing.”
One of Mooney’s friends, John Chase Jr., called him a “great man” in a social media post and expressed anger over how violent America has become.
Mooney was a lifelong fan of the Patriots. He reportedly had season tickets for 30 years. According to a GoFundMe organized for the family, he was married for more than 20 years to his wife, Lisa. The pair had two children together, Brandon and Aaron. The fund organizer stated Mooney was “constantly laughing and creating moments” with his kids. In less than 24 hours, the fundraiser had reached more than $21,000.
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