Police arrested a suspect in the March attack outside Dodgers Stadium that left San Francisco Giants fan Bryan Stow with brain damage Sunday.
Giovanni Ramirez, 31, was arrested during an early morning raid on an East Hollywood apartment building. He was charged with assault with a deadly weapon and was held on $1 million bail. Police Chief Charlie Beck said that Ramirez was believed to be the “primary aggressor” in the attack.
Police said Ramirez was one of two suspects sought in the beating. They are also looking for the woman who drove them away from the scene of the crime.
Stow, a 42-year-old paramedic and father of two, was attacked by two men in Dodgers jerseys outside the stadium as he was leaving the team’s season opener. Minutes earlier Stow, who was wearing Giants gear, texted a family member and said he feared for his safety in the crowd.
Doctors had to put him in a medically induced coma to help prevent seizures, and last week reported that he was finally able to open his eyes. He still, however, remains in critical condition.
After the attack flyers and billboards bearing the sketches and descriptions of “Suspect 1” and “Suspect 2” appeared throughout Southern California. Ramirez was identified as “suspect 1,” who was described was having a bald head, goatee and tattoos on his neck.
Rewards of more than $200,000 have been offered for information leading to the arrests.
Police called the victim’s family Sunday morning to let them know about Ramirez’s arrest.
“I can’t even tell you the emotions that we’re going through right now,” Bonnie Stow, his sister, told KABC-TV. “To be excited is the least we can say.
The Giants also released a statement, thanking the Los Angeles police and “the community for its tremendous support for the Stow family during this difficult time.”
Baseball fans have long complained of the dangers one faces when wearing a rival team’s jersey at Dodger’s stadium. Since the attack Beck has stepped up security at the stadium, and says that the plan of action is working.
The case will not be over until all the guilty parties are found, most officials agreed.
“The woman who was driving, you need to give yourself in. The other coward who did this, you need to give yourself in,” said City Councilman Ed Reyes.
With Associated Press