A popular Oakland restauranteur and Moraga resident critically injured in a parking lot shoving match outside SoFi stadium in Los Angeles the day of the NFC Championship game remains in a medically induced coma Friday, his alleged assailant arrested and later released as the investigation into the incident continues.
Daniel Luna, 40, owner/chef of Mistura – a Peruvian restaurant on Piedmont Avenue in Oakland – was hospitalized after he was found bleeding in the stadium parking lot about half an hour into the Rams-49ers contest on Sunday, authorities said.
Investigators said video surveillance of the parking lot where the assault occurred appears to show Luna, dressed in a “throwback” Forty Niner jersey, shoving another man – identified as Bryan Alexis Cifuentes-Rossell, 33, of Los Angeles – with Cifuentes-Rossell retaliating and Luna hitting the ground. While it was not immediately disclosed what prompted the incident, Cifuentes-Rossell was believed to be wearing opposing Los Angeles Rams apparel at the time of the incident.
The videotape of the altercation has not been made public but in a press conference Thursday, Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts said it appeared that Luna first shoved Cifuentes-Rossell from behind, and that the suspect responded by pushing and striking Luna in the face, causing him to fall and with Luna hitting his head as he went down.
Cifuentes-Rossell was interviewed by police and arrested after investigators traced the license plates on his car and tracked him to his workplace. He was later released on bond.
Investigators said the crowd around the two men, dressed in the colors of rival teams, appeared to scatter after Luna fell and lapsed into unconsciousness.
Grown men willing to fight over a kids game.
A momentary lapse in judgement – and a life changed. Hope he heals and that people come to their senses relative to the importance of these games and the place of these teams in their lives.