Bryan Stow Of Santa Cruz Remains Hospitalized After Ball Game Attack
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LOS ANGELES -- A savage beating by two men outside Dodgers Stadium has left a San Francisco Giants fan in a medically-induced coma as police on Saturday urged any witnesses to help identify the attackers.
The beating after Thursday's season opener between the Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers left the victim in critical but stable condition.
Police released composite sketches of the two suspects, who were wearing Dodgers clothing. Investigators were also checking to see if any security cameras captured the attack, but Detective Larry Burcher said they had found "nothing of great value."
"We're very confident there were witnesses, it happened immediately following the game when everybody was coming out," Burcher said.
On Saturday, County Supervisor Mike Antonovich offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrests of the suspects.
Police said the two men began taunting three men in Giants gear with expletives as thousands of baseball fans left the stadium after Thursday night's 2-1 Dodger victory, Detective T.J. Moore said.
The Giants fans tried to distance themselves from their assailants, and two made it away from them, but one was struck with fists on the back of the head and as he fell, his head hit the ground in a parking lot on the third base side of the ballpark, Moore said.
Both attackers then kicked the victim, who suffered a head injury, then ran, Moore said. The suspects fled in a four-door sedan driven by a woman with a male child passenger in the vehicle, Moore said.
The victim's friends returned and found him on the ground.
His name wasn't released, but KGO radio in San Francisco and the Santa Cruz Sentinel identified him as Bryan Stow, a 42-year-old paramedic from Santa Cruz. His brother-in-law, David Collins, told KGO that Stow, a married father of two, has severe head injuries.
"It's sad," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said before Friday's game against the Dodgers. "It's a shame somebody's in critical condition because of a ball game. When they're out fighting in the parking lot, we've lost sight of what this is all about. Sounds like the guy got blindsided, too."
The Dodgers said they were co-operating with investigators and wished the victim a speedy recovery.
"It is extremely unfortunate that this incident took place on what was otherwise a great day at Dodger Stadium for tens of thousands of fans," the team said in a statement. "We're committed to having the most fan and family friendly environment in baseball and will continue to make that a top priority."
After offering the reward, Antonovich called for enhanced security and strict limits on alcohol sales at Dodger Stadium, which is owned by the team and regulated by Los Angeles and the state Alcohol Beverages Control Board.
The ball park has been plagued by opening day violence in the past.
In April 2009, a man stabbed his friend in the stadium parking lot after the home opener. Arthur Alvarez said he acted in self-defense and was acquitted by a jury.
The West Coast rivalry began on April 18, 1958, the first game played in California after both teams had moved from New York. The Dodgers beat the Giants 6-5 in a game played before nearly 79,000 fans at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
"I was disappointed," new Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said about the Thursday attack. "You don't want to see that. Everyone likes rivalries, but to me, that's crossing the line."
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Associated Press 04/ 2/11 07:50 PM ET Associated Press