A 60-year-old spectator died of a "cardiac event" after being involved in a brawl at a Vermont middle school basketball game, police have said.
Police in Vermont, in the northeastern corner of the United States, said an investigation into the incident was ongoing and police were working with country prosecutors to review the case.
Potential charges for those involved in the fight, at a Vermont middle school were yet to be determined, state police said on Friday.
Russell Giroux, of Alburgh, who was a grandfather, died on January 31 at Northwestern Medical Center in St. Albans more than two hours after he was involved in the altercation, ABC News reported.
The fight involved multiple spectators and took place during a seventh- and eighth-grade boys basketball game between Alburgh Community Education Center and St. Albans City School, police said.
A medical examiner said the cause of death was an “acute cardiac event following altercation in an individual with coronary artery atherosclerosis”.
The manner of death would be listed as undetermined, police said.
By the time police arrived at the scene of the fight, the conflict had ended and many of the participants had left.
Giroux sought medical attention and was taken by ambulance to the hospital, police said.
After the brawl, school officials announced that home basketball games would be closed to spectators for the rest of the season at the Alburgh middle school.
Alburgh is a town of about 2,100 in northwestern Vermont.
On March 31, Vermont State police said in a statement: "The Vermont State Police on Friday, March 31, 2023, received autopsy findings from the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Burlington regarding the death of Russell Giroux.
"The 60-year-old Alburgh resident died January 31 at Northwestern Medical Center in St Albans just over two hours after he was involved in an altercation among multiple spectators at a middle-school basketball game.
"The medical examiner determined Giroux’s cause of death was an 'acute cardiac event following altercation in an individual with coronary artery atherosclerosis.' The manner of death will be listed as 'undetermined.'
"The Vermont State Police investigation into this incident remains active and ongoing. Detectives are working closely with the office of Grand Isle County State’s Attorney Doug DiSabito to review the case and any potential charges for individuals involved in the altercation."
Then on Wednesday, February 1, they said they were "investigating the death of a man following a fight that occurred at a school basketball game...in the town of Alburgh."
They added: "State police were called at 6.56pm to the Alburgh Community Education Center, 45 Champlain Street, for a report of a large fight involving multiple spectators during a sevent-eight grade boys basketball game between Alburgh and St Albans.
"The melee ended before troopers arrived on scene, and some participants had departed the school. One of those individuals, Russell Giroux, 60, of Alburgh, subsequently sought medical attention, was transported by ambulance to Northwestern Medical Center in St. Albans, and was pronounced dead at the hospital. The circumstances of his death are under active investigation.
"Mr Giroux’s body will be brought to the Chief Medical Examiner's Office in Burlington for an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of his death."
Later they revealed the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office has performed an autopsy on the body of Mr Giroux of Alburgh.
They said: "The cause and manner of death are listed as pending further investigation, including toxicology testing and ongoing work by the VSP Bureau of Criminal Investigations detectives assigned to the case.
"Investigators are continuing to work to determine what prompted the fight at the Alburgh Community Education Center and to understand the roles of the individuals involved. Detectives have learned that Mr Giroux had left the school and was driving in the direction of his home when he stopped his car and called first responders, who located him in the vehicle and transported him to the hospital, where he died.
"State police have interviewed participants in the brawl and spectators at the game, and collected and reviewed video footage of the melee. Investigators continue to work closely with Grand Isle County State’s Attorney Doug DiSabito."
