James Anastasio of Staten Island, a Rangers fan, was arrested for a brutal sucker punch on a Tampa fan after Game 5’s loss.
Following the Rangers’ playoff loss Thursday night, a now-viral video recorded a New York Rangers supporter severely sucker-punching a Tampa Bay Lightning fan.
Tampa Bay struck twice in the final five minutes of overtime to beat the Rangers 3-1 at Madison Square Garden and grab a 3-2 series lead in the Eastern Conference finals.
As supporters departed the stadium after the game, two individuals seemed to get into a verbal altercation.
The Rangers fan then turned around and unleashed a devastating left punch to the Tampa supporter’s face, flooring him, according to a video shared on Twitter.
Who Is James Anastasio From Staten Island NY?
According to investigators, James Anastasio of Staten Island, NY, sucker-punched the first guy in the face in an unsolicited incident as hockey fans exited the arena after the game at about 11 p.m.
The victim, wearing the rival team’s jersey, the Tampa Bay Lightning, was shown sliding to the floor and losing consciousness on video of the incident.
Anastasio attempted to flee but was arrested by a 37-year-old eyewitness, according to police. Per the investigators, Anastasio also retorted by punching him in the face.
Although the eyewitness had injuries on his face, he declined medical treatment at the site.
Rangers Fan James Anastasio Arrested After Assault
Police verified to The New York Post that James Anastasio, 29, of Staten Island, was arrested and accused with two charges of assault, two counts of disorderly conduct, and two counts of harassment.
Madison Square Garden’s guest services staff has followed up to offer assistance to the victims, according to a spokeswoman for PIX11 News.
Further, the event was criticized by Garden authorities, who banned Anastasio from all of their venues for the rest of his life on Friday. The Garden is also helping with the investigation into the event, which is still ongoing.
A Look At James Anastasio Mugshot And Viral Video
Authorities have yet to release James Anastasio’s mugshot. Still, he was recognized as the guy shown in a viral video initiating an unjustified attack against a Lightning fan following Thursday’s playoff game, which New York lost.
A shocking video of the event, which has been seen over 2.8 million times on Twitter, shows an enraged Rangers fan spinning around and striking an opposition team fan as they left the Garden.
The footage does not reveal what remarks were spoken between the two supporters that may have sparked the incident.