Video captured a white football fan striking Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray in the face with an open palm during Sunday night’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
WALKOFF!! @12SportsAZ pic.twitter.com/eQ75VJtk30
— Cameron Cox (@CamCox12) September 18, 2022
The incident transpired after Cardinals’ Byron Murphy Jr. scored a touchdown for his team by recovering a fumble from the Raiders. Once Murphy reached the end zone, the Cardinals celebrated. Murray approached one section of fans in the stands and slapped hands with a Black fan while other fans clung to him and clapped his back. Then the white fan’s hand reached across the other rowdy fans and struck Murray.
The quarterback’s mien changed immediately after the slap, and he attempted to address his attacker. Before an altercation could ensue, Murray’s teammates pulled him away while a couple of fans also tried to de-escalate the situation, which one can be heard saying, “Chill.”
The white fan’s intentions are unclear; however, Las Vegas police are investigating the situation. According to TMZ Sports, a spokesperson for the Las Vegas police said that a battery complaint was filed at Allegiant Stadium around 6:26 p.m.
“We do not provide victim names; however, the cent you are requesting is a battery call alleging a spectator at the stadium struck a professional football player,” the spokesperson said. “A crime report was taken, and the suspect has not been identified. This is an ongoing investigation.”
Since the original video was too fast to pinpoint the person who attacked the quarterback, one Twitter user slowed the footage and made a loop, showing a white male in a gray shirt jumping up and hitting Murray.
As for the slap in the face, I played it back and forth. Judge for yourself. pic.twitter.com/Or16WE0Ho4
— Levon Hughey (@LevonHughey) September 20, 2022
The Cardinals beat the Raiders 29-23.
