2 RI Men Facing Charges In NH Man's Death At Gillette Stadium

WARWICK, RI — Two Rhode Island men have been charged in the death of a New Hampshire man following an altercation at Gillette Stadium in September, the Norfolk District Attorney's Office said in a news release Thursday.

The men — 54-year-old John Vieira and 39-year-old Justin Mitchell, both from Warwick — have been charged with assault and battery and disorderly conduct after being accused of being involved in an altercation that led to the death of 53-year-old Dale Mooney while he was attending a Patriots game at the stadium Sept. 17.

Mooney collapsed during the altercation, after which first responders in attendance rendered first aid but he did not survive, officials said.

Mooney's cause of death, according to the medical examiner, is "probable cardiac dysrhythmia in a person with severe hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease during a physical altercation," according to officials.

While his manner of death was ruled a homicide by the medical examiner, the "review of the available evidence, including the autopsy results and multiple angles of video capturing the incident, did not determine that the evidence established a basis for criminal prosecution of charges related to homicide" in Mooney's death, the Norfolk District Attorney's Office said.

"We thank the members of the public who made their private videos of the altercation available for our review, and the investigators at the Foxborough Police Department, for their help in establishing a clear picture of these tragic events," Norfolk District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey said in the news release.

Mooney, of Newmarket, New Hampshire, was a father of two and a Patriots season ticket holder for 30 years, his wife, Lisa, told WCVB-TV.