October 12, 2015
About 90 minutes after the New England Patriots got finished thrashing the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, a man in his 40s was shot in the head at a tailgate party outside AT&T Stadium.
Police in Arlington, Texas, reported that they heard a single shot fired when responding to a call for a fight in one of the parking lots.
The victim, whose identity was not immediately released, sustained life-threatening injuries and was airlifted to a nearby hospital, where he remained listed in critical condition on Monday.
A fight in Lot 10 after Pats - Cowboys gm @ATTStadium. Victim shot in the head. Serious condition. Not fatal pic.twitter.com/dD1rfkryp7
— Clarence Hill (@clarencehilljr) October 12, 2015
According to the Dallas Morning News:
The suspect in the shooting was transported to another area hospital with a leg injury that police believe may have happened as he [was] attempting to flee the scene.
He has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and will be booked into jail after he is released from the hospital. Officers are guarding him.
[Police spokesman Christopher] Cook said officers are investigating what led up to the fight. They are unsure if the men knew each other and said they “might have been tailgating for a while.”
This is an unfortunate situation, and as dire as the victim's condition seems, here's hoping he pulls through.
But it's also worth noting that anytime something horrible happens amongst American sporting audiences, thee ole Philly fans [insert "threw snowballs at Santa" or "tossed batteries at J.D. Drew" here] tropes (and knee-jerk responses, mine included) come out to play.
To wit:
Hope this guy's OK. Eagles fans still the worst though right? http://t.co/QgWG5MxA79
— Ricky (@ARicky5) October 12, 2015
A shooting outside of Cowboys stadium, videos of cowboys fans beating up other cowboys fans. Yet they call #Eagles fans out? Smh.
— Spielz (@PuckheadDad) October 12, 2015
Cowboys fans gotta be the worst fans right after Eagles fans just cause of the shooting story http://t.co/XGhc6iPceK
— Ashi (@ashii03) October 12, 2015
But Eagles fans boo'd Santa http://t.co/Uq5Bij5Qbx
— Popular Stranger (@iiiiMike) October 12, 2015
Please bring up #Eagles fans throwing snowballs at Santa 50 years ago when #Cowboys fans are shooting people outside they're stadium
— Mike (@EutawStBully) October 12, 2015
So, yeah, even after a parking-lot shooting, throwing snowballs at Santa remains a baseline for fan behavior.
