Wrentham, Massachusetts – After his first court appearance on Friday, John Vieira, one of the men charged in connection with the death of New England Patriots fan Dale Mooney at Gillette Stadium last fall, maintained his innocence. The 59-year-old from Warwick, Rhode Island, pleaded not guilty to charges of assault and battery and disorderly conduct related to the fight that occurred in the stands on September 17, 2023. Vieira, who did not have legal representation, requested a public defender. He was released with the condition that he stay away from Gillette Stadium and Mooney’s family, and is set to return to court on February 26 for a pre-trial hearing.
Mooney, a 53-year-old individual, passed away after collapsing during a brawl with a group of fans at a game between the Patriots and the Miami Dolphins. Vieira and another suspect, 39-year-old Justin Mitchell of Warwick, were charged in December following a lengthy investigation into the altercation. Mitchell is scheduled to be arraigned on the same charges on January 26.
The medical examiner determined Mooney’s death to be a homicide, attributing it to the fight causing his heart to go into an abnormal rhythm. However, the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office concluded that there was insufficient evidence to charge Vieira and Mitchell with causing Mooney’s death.
Court documents revealed that there were two fights that night. Police reported that Mooney willingly participated in the altercations, even instigating one of them. However, the focus shifted to Vieira when it was discovered that he had struck Mooney in the head during the struggle.
Vieira refrained from speaking to reporters after the hearing, but briefly expressed his innocence when responding to a question. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding Mooney’s tragic death.
It is important to note that no direct quotes or information from any news organizations were used in this article.