A woman and her 2-year-old son died after falling from the third story balcony of Petco Park Saturday, the San Diego Police Department said.
According to SDPD Lt. Andra Brown, the mother and her child fell from the third story balcony at the downtown San Diego stadium onto the sidewalk below around 4 p.m., just before the start of the San Diego Padres and Atlanta Braves game.
Brown said the mother, 40, and her son, were at a dining/concession area prior to the fall.
Officers quickly arrived on scene and discovered the bodies of the woman and child on the sidewalk at 200 Tony Gwynn Way, Brown said.
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Officers began CPR on the mother and child, but due to their fatal injuries, both were pronounced dead at the scene, according to Brown.
The victims’ deaths appeared to be suspicious and, out of an abundance of caution, the San Diego Police Homicide Unit was called to the scene, Brown said.
"It was described to me as about a six-story fall," Brown said. "It’s far too early for us to have any information as to whether or not this is intentional or accidental."
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Police do not have a cause as to why the two fell and are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding their deaths.
Brown said, "We are speaking to the father of the child, they are not married but we are speaking." The woman and her son are residents of San Diego, Brown told NBC 7.
San Diegan Brian Howell said many fans who were enjoying the game weren't aware of what happened – but police and stadium crews began keeping people away from certain areas of the stadium.
"They were just keeping us away from that area, we thought it was standard protocol but everyone along this side was keeping us out of that area," Howell said. "All we heard was that there might have been an unfortunate incident."
The San Diego Padres said in a statement, "We are deeply saddened by the loss of life at Petco Park last evening. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of those involved."
We are deeply saddened by the loss of life at Petco Park last evening. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of those involved.
San Diego Padres
"We will continue to refrain from comment on the nature of the incident as it is an ongoing investigation by the San Diego Police Department.”
Detectives are attempting to locate evidence and any possible witnesses.
"We do know that there were a lot of people that were up on the concourse area that may have information about this and if anyone has any information, we would certainly like to hear from them," Brown said.
Brown said the woman and child have been identified, but police are not releasing their names at this time.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the Homicide Unit at (619) 531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
