Phoenix police search for people of interest in deadly soccer game assault
Phoenix soccer game altercation leaves 19-year-old dead, police seek public help
Phoenix police are asking for help identifying people of interest after a 19-year-old died following a soccer game fight on Aug. 6. FOX 10's Ty Brennan sits down with Sgt. Chris Berrelleza for the latest details in the investigation.
PHOENIX - Phoenix police are seeking the public's assistance in identifying several individuals involved in a deadly altercation of a 19-year-old following a fight on a soccer field.
The backstory:
Sgt. Chris Berrelleza with the Phoenix Police Department said the incident occurred on Aug. 6 at an apartment complex located just north of 43rd Avenue and McDowell Road after officers received reports of an unresponsive man.
Officers learned the victim, 19-year-old Tumusifu Bazirake, had been participating in a soccer game when an assault took place. The teen was taken to a nearby hospital, where he later died from his injuries approximately a week later.
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Man dies after being assaulted at west Phoenix soccer game
Police say 19-year-old Tumusifu Bazirake died after he was assaulted during a fight at a soccer game near 43rd Avenue and McDowell Road on August 6.
What we know:
Investigators have released photos of several individuals who were present in the area at the time of the assault. Berrelleza said that these individuals are considered people of interest rather than confirmed suspects, but identifying them remains critical to the case.
"Based on the investigation, some of the photos that we provided, these are people of interest that were in the area at the time," Berrelleza said. "And to locate these people and identify them, we believe it would be very beneficial to the case with whatever information they can provide."
(The Phoenix Police Department)
The assault took place around 8 p.m., a time when many residents may have been in the area and saw the individuals.
What you can do:
Anyone with information regarding the identity of these individuals or the incident is urged to contact the Phoenix Police Department or Silent Witness at 480-948-6377.
A GoFundMe was started to help the family with expenses.
Map of where the Aug. 6 fight took place.
The Source: Information in this report was gathered from Sgt. Chris Berrelleza with the Phoenix Police Department.