Officials investigating after Panthers fan sucker-punches man
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- The Carolina Panthers are speaking out after a man was attacked during their game Thursday night.
On Friday, officials announced that they had identified the man caught on camera sucker-punching an older fan in the upper deck of the Bank of America stadium during their game against the Eagles.
"We have reviewed videotape of the incident and have identified the perpetrator," Panthers Executive Director of Risk Management Lance Emory said in a statement. "We are working with the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department to pursue charges to the fullest extent of the law. The Carolina Panthers are committed to a fan-friendly and family-friendly stadium experience. The behavior exhibited by the perpetrator is unacceptable and will not be condoned at Bank of America Stadium."
However, officials have yet to release the suspect's name
Warren Carrigan, who was at the game, recorded the incident and posted it to his Instagram account.
According to his post, the man who threw the punch - he's wearing the Newton jersey - and the woman he was with were "standing for the entire game."
He said the men exchanged remarks all night and their words got more escalated as the night progressed.
Carrigan said after a mother and her son - who were sitting between him and the victim - left, the fight was on.
After the victim said the couple was rude for obstructing the view of others, Carrigan said the Newton jersey wearer lost it. He yelled a few obscenities at the victim and then sucker-punched him in the face.
After taking a hit to the face, the victim remained in his seat as he started to bleed while the attacker continued to punch him repeatedly.
Several other fans jumped in and tried to break up the fight, but the attacker and the woman quickly left the stadium.
"I feel regret not jumping to action ... It bothers me that the assailers were able to exit the stadium. It bothers me that non-witnesses are making assertions about the video that is absurd ... Most of all, I am bothered by the single mother and her son who was having his 'first NFL experience' that was sitting between us and the victim, feeling compelled to leave due to the escalating tension."
But Carrigan told ABC11 that the victim wasn't the only one annoyed by the standing. In fact, he said many people in the stands were aggravated and grew even more agitated when the men started to argue.
The victim, who has not been identified, has filed a police report with the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department; the NFL is helping with the investigation, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
WSOC contributed to this post.
