Paul Kueker, Niantic, Connecticut man falls 150 feet to his death during Goose Madison Square Garden concert as band are criticized for continuing performance after tragedy. Victim id as father of two according to his mom, Patricia Finelli.
A 51-year-old concert goer who fell to his death during rock band Goose’s performance at NYC’s Madison Square Garden has been identified as a married father of two from Connecticut.
Paul Kueker of Niantic, CT, fatally plunged 150 feet from the Chase Bridge in the World’s Most Famous Arena just before 10 p.m. Saturday.
‘He was the greatest kid in the whole wide world,’ Kueker’s mother, Patricia Finelli told the nypost. ‘He’d give you the shirt off his back.
Cause of tragedy under investigation
‘He has two children, a beautiful wife, and he took care of me like I was a piece of gold.’
Kueker was with his wife at the time who witnessed the tragedy, according to Fox News.
According to the New York Police Department, officers responded to urgent reports of a fall inside the arena and found the man unconscious and unresponsive at 9.51pm.
Kueker was rushed to Bellevue Hospital after the fall, where he was later pronounced dead, police said.
He was on the Chase Bridge, an elevated seating section that was added to the arena in 2013, when he fell.
One image of the aftermath, shared by a concertgoer, showed several seats caved in at the venue as police tape surrounded the scene.
Not immediately clear is what led to Kueker falling and whether all safety mandates were being adhered to during the concert.
Band criticized for continuing performance after tragedy
Goose, a Connecticut-based jam band, was booked for a two-night gig at MSG as part of their summer tour and on their second night there when the tragedy struck.
They completed their full 16-song set around midnight Saturday, after the fall.
‘We are deeply saddened and heartbroken to learn of the tragic event that occurred at tonight’s show,’ the band later said in a statement.
‘We extend our deepest sympathies to everyone affected. Thank you to the emergency personnel and venue staff who stepped in with care and support.’
Some attendees criticized the band for resuming the concert after stopping briefly when Kueker fell.
