A friend of the Pittsburgh Pirates fan who plummeted 20 feet onto the field last month has been arrested for buying him just two beers – because he’s underage.
Ethan Kirkwood, 21, told police investigating the incident that he bought friend Kavan Markwood, 20, the beers during the game against the Chicago Cubs on April 30.
As a result, Kirkwood is now facing two misdemeanor counts of selling or furnishing alcohol to a minor.
Markwood fell head-first over the stadium’s 21-foot Clemente Wall during the seventh inning of the game while celebrating a Andrew McCutchen double.
He was rushed to hospital in critical condition after the horrific plunge, which left him with a broken neck, back and collarbone.
Police said security footage from inside PNC Park shows Kirkwood buying two 24-ounce Miller Lite beers just before the game’s first pitch.
A friend of the Pittsburgh Pirates fan who plummeted 20 feet onto the field has been arrested
Markwood, 20, went tumbling over the wall and crashed onto the field in a horrifying moment
The footage then shows Kirkwood, who was asked for ID during the purchase, taking the drinks to his group of three friends, which included Markwood and two females.
Both Kirkwood and Markwood can be seen with the beers in the hands in the footage.
An hour later, Kirkwood makes another trip to the bar area and brings back two more beers.
Markwood then fell around 50 minutes later while Kirkwood was returning with another two beers.
‘Two females are seen running down the stairs and looking for Kirkwood. Kirkwood is then seen handing a can to a female who throws it in the trash and jumping over a railing and then jumped on the field to help his friend,’ the criminal complaint reads.
One of the females, described as Markwood’s girlfriend in the affidavit, said he drank just two beers and had not been drinking before the game.
‘We feel it is inappropriate to comment on this legal matter. Kavan, his family and his friends have been through a lot. Our focus remains on supporting Kavan on his road to recovery following this tragic accident,’ the Pirates said in a statement.
Markwood was seen laying down on the warning track before another fan leapt down to them
Pirates player Andrew McCutchen put his head in his hands after the shocking moment
According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Kirkwood was charged by Indiana University of Pennsylvania police back in October 2022 with purchase of alcohol by a minor and public drunkenness and pleaded guilty to both in January 2023.
Then, just weeks later, he was cited for the same two violations by cops at Slippery Rock University. Again, he pleaded guilty a month later.
Around a week after Markwood’s fall, doctors revealed he had made ‘really remarkable progress’.
Pirates icon McCutchen could be seen with his head in his hands in the immediate aftermath of the incident, while Pittsburgh owner Bob Nutting released a heartfelt statement, saying ‘we are all deeply saddened and truly heartbroken’.
He added: ‘It was one of the most difficult moments many of us have ever experienced. We are devastated.
‘Pirates baseball is a community, and our fans are like family. In times like these, we must come together, support one another, and keep him and his loved ones in our prayers.
‘We also want to thank and appreciate the efforts of the first responders who rushed to his attention and provided him with compassionate care.’
