Giants to add police enforcement for tonight’s game with Dodgers [Updated]
The reaction and fallout from the postgame stabbing Wednesday figures to be long and involved, but part of the immediate reaction came Thursday when the Giants announced they would add security for tonight’s game against the Dodgers at AT&T Park in San Francisco.
A 24-year-old Dodgers fan was stabbed and killed a few blocks from the ballpark during a brawl about 90 minutes after Wednesday’s game.
“We were deeply saddened to learn of last night’s horrific incident that occurred several blocks from the ballpark and resulted in the tragic death of 24-year old Jonathan Denver,” the Giants said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time.
“While details are still emerging, we want to be clear that there is absolutely no place in our community for this type of senseless violence.”
[Updated at 3:23 p.m.: The Dodgers released the following statement that said Denver was the son of a Dodgers security guard:
“The Dodgers are shocked and saddened to learn of the death of Jonathan Denver, who is the son of one of our security guards.
“There is no rational explanation for this senseless act which resulted in Jonathan’s death. The pain that this has caused his family and friends is unimaginable. Words are not enough to describe our sadness. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family during this extremely difficult time.”]
The Giants said they were working with the San Francisco Police Department to add enforcement in and around the ballpark tonight and in their final three home games against the Padres this weekend.
The Giants may have learned from mistakes made by the Dodgers. The team and then-owner Frank McCourt were criticized for reacting slowly after Giants fan Brian Stow was savagely beaten in the Dodger Stadium parking lot after the 2011 season opener. McCourt’s immediate reaction was to say how satisfied he was with his stadium security.
The Giants said they would also have a moment of silence for Denver before tonight’s game against the Dodgers, the final time the teams will meet this season.
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