In Wrentham, Massachusetts, a second individual from Rhode Island, Justin Mitchell, aged 39, pleaded not guilty on Friday to charges of assault and battery as well as disorderly conduct, relating to the death of a fan at a New England Patriots game. Mitchell and 59-year-old John Vieira, both residents of Warwick, Rhode Island, are accused of assaulting 53-year-old Dale Mooney from Newmarket, New Hampshire. Vieira had pleaded not guilty the previous week.
During the brief court appearance, Mitchell was directed to keep away from Gillette Stadium, Mooney’s family, and any potential witnesses. The alleged incident occurred during a game on September 17, resulting in a 24-17 victory for the visiting Miami Dolphins. Mooney, struck during an altercation, was taken to the hospital and later pronounced dead.
Preliminary indications from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner initially did not suggest traumatic injury but identified a medical issue. The cause and manner of death were undetermined pending further testing. However, final determinations by the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office classified the manner of death as a homicide, citing “probable cardiac dysrhythmia in a person with severe hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease during a physical altercation” as the cause of death.
Despite this, the review of available evidence, including autopsy results and multiple video angles capturing the incident, failed to establish a basis for criminal charges related to homicide in Mooney’s death, according to Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey.
