Fan violence at professional sporting events continues to be a problem, particularly at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.
Rafael Reyna, 45, suffered a skull fracture and is on life support after he was attacked in the stadium parking lot around 1:00 a.m. Saturday near the end of the Dodgers' extra-innings game against the Arizona Diamondbacks that began Friday night.
The attack, which coincided with the Dodgers' second home game of the season, conjured up memories of the Opening Day 2011 beating of Giants fan Bryan Stow, who needed part of his cull removed to relieve brain swelling.
From AB: Parking Lot Beating Gives Dodgers Another Black Eye
Christel Reyna, Rafael’s wife, told NBC4 that she was using Facetime to talk to her husband when the attack happened. She watched as a man approached her husband and started cursing at him. After that, she heard a loud sound and the screen went black.
"I'm panicked. I'm screaming in the phone and nobody is hearing me," she said. "Nobody is answering me. And I could hear my husband moaning."
Rafael and Christel have three children together, ages 11, 12 and 13. Rafael is in serious condition related to head trauma from his head striking the concrete.
No arrests were immediately made and no suspect descriptions were immediately available.
The Dodgers issued the following statement Saturday night in response to the incident:
"Last night, an altercation occurred suddenly between two men who were leaving the stadium. One of the men was injured as a result of the altercation. A witness immediately reported the incident to stadium personnel, and emergency medical technicians were promptly dispatched to provide medical assistance at the scene. The matter is now being investigated by the Los Angeles Police Department, and the Dodgers are cooperating fully with the investigation."
