SoFi Stadium fight: Suspect ID'd, released on bail after arrest in altercation that left man in coma
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (KABC) -- Inglewood officials on Friday publicly identified the man who was arrested and released on bail in connection with a fight outside SoFi Stadium during the NFC title game that left another man in a medically induced coma.
At a morning press conference, Mayor James Butts said Inglewood police arrested 33-year-old Bryan Alexis Cifuentes-Rossell on suspicion of assault by means to produce great bodily injury.
According to Butts, investigators were able to locate the suspect, who works in Montebello, after reviewing surveillance video from the stadium parking lot that captured footage of a vehicle license plate.
Cifuentes-Rossell contacted Inglewood police on Thursday, and he was asked to come to the Inglewood police station to be interviewed.
"He declined, but said he would talk to the officers in Montebello,'' Butts said. "Officers went to his location, and he voluntarily accompanied them to the Inglewood Police Department, where he received his Miranda admonition and was interviewed. After the interview, he was placed under arrest.''
The suspect was later released in lieu of $30,000 bail.
Butts said the brief fight was captured on video. The injured 49ers fan, identified as Oakland resident Daniel Luna, was involved in a brief pushing match with another person, who was possibly wearing a Rams jersey.
That person pushed Luna back and punched him once in the mouth, according to the video. Luna fell to the ground and was found some time later by stadium security personnel.
"It looked like a small altercation that went very bad," said Butts, who said the video isn't being released as the investigation remains ongoing. "Five seconds. Push. Turn around, push, (and) punch. It wasn't even five seconds."
Luna remained hospitalized in a coma as of Friday morning. "His condition has not improved or degraded," the mayor said.
Asked if the incident would have any impact on preparations for Super Bowl Sunday at SoFi Stadium, Butts demurred.
"I don't think there's anything to worry about," he said. "The reality is that this was a one-punch, one-shove, two-shove, one-punch altercation. The greatest damage was done because he landed on the back of his head, on the pavement. So I don't think this has any implications for safety."
Butts said the video shows what he described as a "49ers group gathering" of about 16 people hanging out at the stadium's Lot L.
Only the suspect and Luna appear to have been involved in the physical altercation, the mayor said.
Inglewood police Lt. Geoffrey Meeks told Eyewitness News on Wednesday Luna - a restaurant owner - was found by officers at around 4 p.m.
Meeks said emergency room staff told him Luna may have been assaulted based on his injuries. They say he suffered serious injuries to his upper body and his face.
Inglewood police say they weren't alerted of the assault claims until about 7 p.m.
"To be blunt about it, it looked like a small altercation that went very bad, from one punch and someone falling, hitting their head on the ground," Butts reiterated. "It wasn't like you had people ganging up on somebody and beating them, as you did in Dodger Stadium."
Butts was referring to the 2011 brutal attack on a San Francisco Giants fan outside of Dodger Stadium. On Opening Day that year, Bryan Stow, a father of two and a former Santa Cruz paramedic, was savagely beaten by Dodgers fans.
He was left with serious brain damage. His attackers were sentenced to years in jail.
Butts said investigators are looking to speak with the person responsible or anyone who may have seen the altercation unfold.
"Anyone who was involved should come forward," said Butts.
A description of the wanted suspect has not been officially released by police.
Butts described the video being reviewed as "blurry," and said it may be released at a later time pending the results of the investigation.
The mayor adds at one point in the video, the suspect is seen speaking to someone in a vehicle, though he did not elaborate on a description.
"We believe we've identified a vehicle associated with the suspect," he said. "We're trying to locate the vehicle and talk to the owner."
