The Pittsburgh Pirates have suspended a game day employee who hit a fan with his belt
Sources told KDKA that the fan was reportedly harassing a concessions employee
The Pirates said on Tuesday, May 6 that the incident is “under further investigation”
The Pittsburgh Pirates have suspended a game day employee who was caught on camera hitting a fan with his belt.
The incident occurred during the Pirates’ 4-0 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday, May 4 at PNC Park. As seen in video captured by Nick Maraldo, a co-host of The Pat McAfee Show, and later shared on X, the Pirates employee becomes physical with the fan, eventually taking off his belt to hit the man with it.
According to KDKA Pittsburgh, sources at the scene said the fight began when the employee intervened after noticing the fan in the video and his friend were allegedly harassing a female concessions employee.
Related: Pittsburgh Pirates Fan in Critical Condition After Fall Identified as Ex-Standout Football Player
The interaction became heated and the fan spit at the Pirates employee, who then took off his belt and rushed toward the fan.
Several punches were thrown during the chaos, as seen in video from the incident.
The Pirates released a statement, shared with PEOPLE on Tuesday, May 6, confirming that the employee seen in the video was “immediately suspended” from the organization.
“Following the conclusion of yesterday’s game, as the final few fans were exiting the ballpark, there was a verbal altercation between two male guests and a female food and beverage employee,” the Pirates said. “At that time, the ballpark gameday employee seen in the video attempted to intervene on her behalf.”
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Brian Warecki, Pirates senior vice president of communications, said the team is “aware of the unfortunate incident that occurred” between the “guest” and their employee, calling the behavior “entirely unacceptable” in his statement. “He was immediately suspended,” Warecki confirmed.
“This incident is under further investigation,” the statement concluded.
Related: Pittsburgh Pirates Fan in Critical Condition After Fall Identified as Ex-Standout Football Player
The incident at PNC Park happened just four days after Kavan Markwood, 20, went over the railing during the seventh inning of the Pirates-Chicago Cubs game on Wednesday, April 30, falling 21 feet onto the field.
On May 3, his friends and family said they are “so relieved and grateful to share some encouraging news” about his recovery via GoFundMe organizer Jennifer Phillips, who is the mother of Markwood’s girlfriend Alonna. She continued, “As of this morning, Kavan is awake, alert, and able to speak. After everything he’s been through since the accident on Wednesday night, this progress feels nothing short of miraculous.”
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