Police release name of suspect in AT&T Stadium shooting

Arlington police on Monday released the name of the suspect involved in a shooting outside AT&T Stadium after Sunday’s Cowboys football game.

Marvin Rodriguez, 28, of Dallas is accused of shooting a 43-year-old man in the neck during a fight in Lot 10, near Collins Street and Randol Mill Road, Arlington police Lt. Chris Cook said in a release Monday. Rodriguez was arrested at the scene Sunday night.

Arlington officers and stadium officials were in the process of clearing out stadium parking lots when two fights broke out in the northwest corner of Lot 10 around 8:20 p.m. One minute later, officers heard a gunshot, Cook said.

The victim remained in serious condition with life-threatening injuries at an area hospital Monday.

Sunday’s game between the Cowboys and New England Patriots ended around 6:30 p.m. Fans are allowed to tailgate in AT&T Stadium lots for up to two hours after the game, under stadium policy.

The vehicles near the shooting were not among those subject to a security search before the game Sunday, a Dallas Cowboys spokesman said Monday.

Cowboys spokesman Joe Trahan said only vehicles within 100 feet of the stadium are subject to a search upon arrival, a standard NFL practice.

The rest of the stadium’s parking lots are patrolled by security units throughout the game.

Rodriguez faces charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury. His bond was set at $200,000.

Witness Lester Peters of Lufkin said Sunday that the suspect first held a gun to Peters’ head. “I didn’t think he was going to pull the trigger,” he said.

Once Peters was let go, the second fight started, and the 43-year-old victim was knocked to the ground, Cook said. The suspect, according to the press release, then walked up to the man and shot him once in the neck.

The shooting occurred in a grassy area between the sidewalk and a retaining wall for the parking lot, Cook said.

Rodriguez, who was also taken to the hospital after tripping over the wall, tried to escape in a vehicle but was arrested.

It remained unclear Monday what started the fights.

The area around the stadium and Globe Life Park was a massive crowd scene because of the baseball and football games being played.

The Texas Rangers’ game against the Toronto Blue Jays started at 7:05 p.m.

Sports venues not immune to fights

While Cook said he could not recall any other shootings at AT&T Stadium, there have been incidents at other sports venues in North Texas.

On April 13, 2013, a 42-year-old man shot himself while in the back of his pickup, after arguing with other race fans in the infield campground near the end of the NASCAR Sprint Cup race.

State law prohibits a person from bringing a firearm on the premises where a high school, collegiate or professional sporting event is being conducted. Violation of the law is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine.

Gates leading into the infield at TMS have signs that state in English and Spanish: "Texas State Law Provides That It Is Unlawful To Carry A Handgun On These Premises."

On Nov. 4, 2008, an Arlington woman was hit in the arm by a .50 caliber bullet, presumably fired from a nearby shooting range. The bullet pierced the roof of the woman's RV at about 10:30 a.m. and hit her arm, shattering it in four places.

Weapons are among the items prohibited in AT&T Stadium lots.

Staff writer Lee Williams contributed to this report.

This story was originally published October 12, 2015 at 11:08 AM with the headline "Police release name of suspect in AT&T Stadium shooting."