Kyler Murray was exultant in wake of the Cardinals’ improbable come-from-behind overtime victory against the Raiders in Week 2.
After all, Murray had played a key role in the comeback. The talented quarterback led the Cardinals to 16 fourth-quarter points that included a game-tying touchdown and 2-point conversion as time expired in regulation.
Naturally, Murray wanted to celebrate after cornerback Byron Murphy returned a fumble recovery 59 yards for the winning touchdown, breaking an NFL overtime record for the longest scoop and score. He opted to do so by running over to a Cardinals fan he saw sitting in the stands at Las Vegas’ stadium.
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From there, things nearly turned ugly.
Murray was hit in the face with an open hand by a Raiders supporter while he was interacting with some Cardinals fans in the section. The quarterback appeared momentarily stunned by the swipe but was uninjured. He then looked angrily into the stands for the fan who hit him. Meanwhile, onlookers in the section restrained the fan.
Police in Las Vegas are investigating allegations that a fan struck Cardinals QB Kyler Murray following the overtime win vs. the Raiders, per @AP
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That fan may soon be in trouble. According to the Associated Press, police are now investigating the altercation between the fan and Murray. The fan could face charges based on the complaint filed.
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If the fan does face charges, it will likely be for simple battery. Why? Because the swipe that hit Murray didn’t cause an apparent injury. If that remains true, the offending party may receive up to six months in prison and $1,000 in fines, per the Las Vegas Defense Group.
The AP reports that police spokesperson Officer Larry Hadfield “did not name Murray as the reporting person” for the complaint. However, he confirmed that the allegation in the complaint claimed that “a spectator at the stadium struck a professional football player.”
Thus far, the police have not yet been able to identify the fan. It’s unclear how long it may take them to locate a potential suspect.
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Murray hasn’t yet addressed the situation. He wasn’t asked about it after the game on Sunday — few had seen the incident play out in the aftermath of the excitement — but he will almost certainly be asked about it at practice this week.