Man assaulted at Tim McGraw concert

MANSFIELD, Mass. -- A young man became the victim of a beating during a country music concert over the weekend. A 19-year-old was jumped and pummeled during the Tim McGraw show at the Comcast Center. He underwent surgery and now is recovering from serious injuries.

The victim’s aunt said her nephew’s spleen was removed, but he’s expected to make a full recovery.

"This is a serious crime. This man easily could have died," said Chief Arthur O’Neill of the Mansfield Police Department.

Nearing the end of the show he was attacked by several men believed to be in their late teens or early 20's.

"Witnesses say he was jumped by one person, taken to the ground, hit many times and then kicked in the head by another person," said Arthur.

The victim is a graduate of Xavarian High School and is now at college on a football scholarship. He was airlifted from Mansfield Airport to Boston Medical Center where detectives interviewed him late Monday.

"He was not able to give them really anything to go on," said Arthur.

Police said they had trouble identifying the beaten teenager because he was in possession of a fake ID belonging to a 22-year-old soldier from Texas. The vicious attack at the concert is unusual, they said, but the underage drinking it not.

"If you look at the music today, particularly country music, used to be an easy night for us, but now we have serious problems with alcohol in the parking lots during the country concerts. But look at the content of some of their music, it’s all about the booze," said Arthur.

Police are asking anyone who may have seen or heard anything during or after the attack to call the Mansfield police.

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