A 24-year-old Indiana man, Jarrett Funke, has been charged with stabbing a man during a fight with two New York Knicks fans at a Carmel, Indiana brewery. The incident occurred during Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals between the Knicks and Pacers. Funke is charged with three felony counts: battery by means of a deadly weapon, battery resulting in serious bodily injury, and criminal recklessness committed with a deadly weapon.
According to court documents, police were initially called to the brewery due to an argument involving Funke. One of the alleged victims reported that Funke had removed a Knicks hat from one of their heads. Funke reportedly yelled obscenities and challenged the men to take the dispute outside. His father intervened to de-escalate the situation, and Funke left the brewery.
However, Funke returned shortly after and confronted the two men on the patio. One of the Knicks fans pulled out a knife but claimed he had no intention of using it. Funke then allegedly pulled out his own knife and stabbed the man in the back. The other fan attempted to intervene and was cut on the leg. Both victims were bleeding profusely and were taken to the hospital. The stabbing victim suffered a broken rib and a minor lung tear.
Funke was apprehended as he tried to leave the brewery. He told police that the Knicks fans started the fight, claiming one of them pushed him and began punching him. However, multiple witnesses identified Funke as the primary aggressor.