The Norfolk District Attorney’s office has dismissed the charges against the two men. They stood trial, along with several others, in the fatal fight between New England Patriots’ and Baltimore Ravens’ fans. The attack occurred during a soccer match at Patriots-owned Gillette Stadium. On September 11, 2023, the New England Patriots took the field against the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins ended up winning the game 24-17.
Mooney, a 53-year-old Newmarket, New Hampshire, resident, faced accusations of punching another fan at a ballgame. He was then hit as a consequence. He was taken to a nearby hospital but doctors could only pronounce him dead shortly after he got there.
Justin Mitchell and John Vieira, the two men charged with hitting Mooney, are Rhode Island natives. They were even charged with misdemeanors for assault, battery, and disorderly conduct. Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey examined the case, which consisted of the autopsy results and several video angles taken from the stadium. Despite great pressure, after reflection he decided to dismiss the charges “in the interest of justice.”
According to the autopsy by the Office of Chief Medical Examiner, the death in custody of Mooney was a direct result of a pre-existing medical condition. Preliminary findings indicated “probable cardiac dysrhythmia in a person with severe hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease during a physical altercation.” Much more importantly, these findings indicated that traumatic injury from the alleged confrontation could not on its own explain Mooney’s death.
Given this, Morrissey found there to be a lack of evidence that would lead a reasonable person to pursue criminal prosecution for homicide. The decision to drop the charges reflects smart and careful consideration of exactly what happened that fateful day. It addresses the medical issues that contributed to Mooney’s unfortunate death.
Fans attending the game saw the fight and describe the fight, but didn’t know just how bad it was until they heard that Mooney had passed away. The unfortunate incident has raised concerns over fan behavior and safety of all at sporting events. All of this has forced local officials to address possible actions to enhance security.
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