San Francisco Giants fan Bryan Stow remains in a coma today after he was severely beaten outside Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles two weeks ago.
Stow, a 42-year-old emergency medical technician in Santa Clara County, has been in a medically induced coma after part of his skull was surgically removed to prevent brain damage from swelling, said Rosa Saca, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center.
“It’s hard to know if he’ll wake up,” she said.
On Thursday, doctors began reducing the medication that was keeping him in a coma, and he is now completely off of it today while physicians continue to monitor his condition.
“If at any point his vitals become compromised, he may need to go back on the medication,” Saca said.
The night of the attack, he was walking with friends, who were all wearing Giants clothing, near Dodger Stadium’s F2 parking lot when a pair of men clad in Dodgers apparel approached him from behind, according to Los Angeles police Officer Rosario Herrera.
Police said the men taunted Stow for being a Giants fan, and then hit him from behind, causing him to fall to the ground.
When Stow’s friends tried to intervene, they were also attacked.
They suffered minor injuries, and were treated at the scene and released.
Stow, on the other hand, was kicked and punched repeatedly by the suspects, according to police. He underwent treatment and surgery for his injuries he sustained on March 31, the night of the attack.
Although Stow remains in a coma, his condition remains stable.
“He may wake up and not be okay, or he may never wake up,” Saca said.
His battering has garnered swift and generous support from baseball fans, public servants, and family and friends affected by news of his condition.
More than $400,000 has been raised to help Stow’s family pay his medical bills and for a reward for details leading to the arrest of the suspects.
“We are so overwhelmed by the love and aid being given to our friends, family, and especially to Bryan,” read a blog entry on support4bryanstow.com, a website run by his sisters Bonnie and Erin.
Erin wrote on Thursday that Stow has not yet opened his eyes, but that doctors have moved a feeding tube to his stomach and inserted a breathing tube in his neck so he no longer had to be on a ventilator.
“These are standard procedures for patients’ comfort,” Saca said.
“It’s very difficult having a tube going through your mouth.”
Saca said the procedures are not indicative of Stow’s condition.
The family’s website displays details for events and fundraisers taking place nearly every day in honor of Stow.
In addition, people are asked through the online location to donate to the fund set up to help the family pay the hospital bills. Friends and family have also been sharing pictures of Stow on the website.
Los Angeles police today released additional details of the suspects, who were initially described as Hispanic men between ages 18 and 25 years old.
The first suspect is now described as a bald Hispanic man, age 20 to 25, who is between 5 feet 6 inches and 5 feet 10 inches tall. He is about 170 pounds, with a mustache and goatee, and was wearing a Dodger jersey, dark shorts, and a blue hat with “LA” in white.
He is also believed to have a mole on his left cheek.
The second suspect is described as a white or Hispanic male with short hair, hazel eyes, who is about 6 feet 1 inch tall.
He was last seen wearing dark clothing, possibly jeans, and a black tank top. He potentially has tattoos on one or more shoulder, according to police.
A third suspect has also been noted as a 20-year-old Hispanic woman who may have been driving a getaway car.
She is described as about 5 feet 3 inches tall, with brown or dyed hair in a ponytail. She was seen with a 10-year-old boy in a newer light-colored luxury sedan with a tan interior, police said.
Anyone with information about the attack is asked to call Los Angeles police at (877) 527-3247.
Saul Sugarman, Bay City News
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