A soccer player died two weeks after sustaining injuries from a fight between players and spectators at Oxnard High School in California.
Misael Sanchez, 29, was, according to Oxnard Police, assaulted by several people when an on-field brawl broke out between adult soccer teams on July 10, CBS news reported.
The police said in a statement that Sanchez died in the early hours of Monday (July 25) and that an autopsy will determine the cause of his death.
Authorities are still investigating the case and have said that they are "still searching for witnesses or anyone who might have video recorded all or part of the fight".
The Oxnard Police Department said the brawl was sparked by a refereeing decision. A commotion followed, and then came the melee.
Sanchez was then attacked by several people and left unresponsive and not breathing by the time first responders arrived on the scene. He was then rushed to Ventura County Medical Center in critical condition and died two weeks later.
The Oxnard police have already arrested a 46-year-old man, Berlin Jose Melgar, who attempted to escape the scene, on charges of felony battery in connection to the incident. However, investigators believe there are more assailants involved in Sanchez's death.
The Ventura County Medical Examiner's Office scheduled an autopsy on Tuesday to determine the exact cause of the soccer player's death.
In the meantime, his family has started a GoFundMe page to cover the costs of his funeral, and they had targeted raising $20,000 but at the time of writing, have raised nearly $27,439.
Sanchez's family wrote in a statement on the page: "It is with a heavy heart to share the passing of our beloved son, Misael Sanchez.
"My family is heartbroken and still in disbelief, as we expected a bright future for him. Misael was assaulted by multiple assailants on July 10, 2022, and left in critical condition. We were not ready for this type of goodbye."
"At this time, we are asking for your prayers, and if you can contribute financially, it will be greatly appreciated. The donations will help the family through these hard times," they continued. "Thank you for the love, support, and prayers."
The local police have urged anyone with information about the game or the fight to contact the Oxnard Police Department.
