Powered by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Web Search by YAHOO!
 

Updated: 6:12 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19, 2013 | Posted: 5:05 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19, 2013

Fan’s fatal fall at Turner Field ruled suicide

Man dies after fall at Turner Field
CURTIS COMPTON / AJC
A baseball fan fell from the upper deck at Turner Field stadium (near the red sign at the top of a stairwell at far left) near the edge of the player's parking lot (bottom left) during the game last night as fans begin to arrive for today's game at Turner Field on Tuesday Aug. 13, 2013 in Atlanta.

By Alexis Stevens

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A 30-year-old Rockdale County man committed suicide when he fell 85 feet to his death last month at Turner Field, according to the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Ronald Lee Homer Jr., of Conyers, was attending an Atlanta Braves game with friends Aug. 12 when he fell from the fourth level of the stadium, landing on concrete in the players’ parking lot. Homer was unconscious and not breathing when emergency responders reached him, Atlanta police previously said. He was taken to Atlanta Medical Center, where he later died.

The day after Homer’s fall, investigators called the death accidental. But his family questioned what caused the 6-foot-6 Homer to fall over the 42-inch-tall railing at the stadium.

Toxicology reports indicate that Homer had alcohol in his system at the time of his death, an investigator with the medical examiner’s office said. His death was ruled a suicide, but the medical examiner’s office would release no further details on the autopsy findings Thursday or why they pointed to suicide. The cause of his death was previously reported as “blunt force trauma.”

An avid Braves fan, Homer frequently attended games and may have gone to smoke a cigarette during a rain delay before falling, his family said. Witnesses told police that no one was standing near Homer at the time he fell, but his family speculated he may have slipped on wet pavement, possibly leaning too far over the railing while looking down at the players’ lot below.

A message left for Homer’s family was not returned Thursday afternoon.

More News

 

Today on MyAJC.com

Botanical Garden’s ‘scarecrows’ are stuffed with silliness

Botanical Garden’s ‘scarecrows’ are stuffed with silliness

Native Americans are said to have created the first scarecrows on these shores to protect their corn crops from the scavenging black birds.

Paul Howard

DA’s spending of federal forfeiture money in question

Finances of the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office were in such chaos in recent years that even its most basic bills went unpaid.

Comments  (9)  

myajc logo 300x225

New 24-hour Digital Pass: Sample all of MyAJC.com for 99 cents

With a 24-hour digital pass, you can enjoy full versions of premium articles, news updates and access to the AJC online archives.