Fan attacked in parking lot after 49ers game in critical condition

SANTA CLARA >> A 33-yearold San Jose man is in critical condition after he was punched twice by a Madera man in a Levi’s Stadium parking lot following Sunday’s 49ers game against the Arizona Cardinals, according to police.

The incident took place Sunday following the 49ers loss to Arizona in the Levi’s Stadium parking lot at the corner of Great America Parkway and Tasman Drive, according to Santa Clara police. A 33-year-old man was walking through the parking lot with his friends when he kicked a bottle that was lying in the parking lot. The bottle landed near another man, who approached the victim and punched him once in the face, according to police.

The victim immediately fell to the ground. The victim slowly got back up on his feet and walked away from the suspect, who punched the man a second time in the head, police said. The victim fell to the ground a second time. Moments later, the suspect fled in a vehicle.

Police officers assigned to the stadium responded to the call, which was originally reported as a medical situation. Officers briefly interviewed the victim, who was cooperative and conscious. The man was transported to a hospital for additional testing and observation.

Police said they “have no information to believe that team loyalty played any role in the assault.”

While at the hospital, the victim’s injuries were fully evaluated as his condition worsened. He is currently listed in critical condition, police said.

“It wasn’t until much later, we checked back with hospital, and found out the severity of his injuries,” police Capt. Wahid Kazem said. “That kicked the investigation into high gear. It had gone from what appeared to be a simple battery to something that was significantly more.”

Santa Clara police investigators identified David Aguilera Gonzales as the suspect in the assault. Gonzales was arrested early Tuesday morning near his home and booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail on felony charges of assault causing great bodily injury and battery with serious bodily injury, according to Santa Clara police.

The assault Sunday is one of the more violent attacks that have occurred during or after 49ers games at Levi’s Stadium. In 2014, two Central Valley brothers attacked two Niners fans inside a bathroom at Levi’s, an attack that was recorded by cell phone video and went viral. Both men were convicted for their roles in the attack.

In September 2015, a video of a group of San Francisco 49ers fans kicking and punching a man wearing a Minnesota Vikings jersey following a Monday night game went viral.

Anyone that may have witnessed the incident Sunday or with information involving this crime is asked to contact Detective Sgt. Nick Richards at 408-6154814.