[M T]

Whether the dispute was over lewd comments to the staff/patrons or whether it was about failure to wear a mask, violence is not appropriate and should be punished appropriately.  But, the incident made the news outside of the local area because of the mask issue.  After reading more detail (CNN and NYT stories), I suspect the mask issue may not have been the main reason for the disagreement between the patrons, but like a broken tail light, it was an issue that could be cited by the person (and subsequent victim) that complained.

It doesn't sound like the man accused of a crime did more than push/shove the victim (which then led to the death 4 days later, and apparently makes the intentional push a potential felony). No closed fists to the face or use of weapons; no repeated hitting; I see no claim of intent to kill. The shove is described as a two-handed shove "out of the blue", which caused the victim to fall.

I don't mean to suggest that alcohol-impaired judgement is the reason here (indeed, I see reports that neither was intoxicated, but "both men had been at the bar for a few hours"), but I'm sure that violence occurs too often (in bars, at sporting events, and other places) for seemingly minor issues.

[M T]

Whether the dispute was over lewd comments to the staff/patrons or whether it was about failure to wear a mask, violence is not appropriate and should be punished appropriately.  But, the incident made the news outside of the local area because of the mask issue.  After reading more detail (CNN and NYT stories), I suspect the mask issue may not have been the main reason for the disagreement between the patrons, but like a broken tail light, it was an issue that could be cited by the person (and subsequent victim) that complained.

It doesn't sound like the man accused of a crime did more than push/shove the victim (which then led to the death 4 days later, and apparently makes the intentional push a potential felony). No closed fists to the face or use of weapons; no repeated hitting; I see no claim of intent to kill. The shove is described as a two-handed shove "out of the blue", which caused the victim to fall.

I don't mean to suggest that alcohol-impaired judgement is the reason here (indeed, I see reports that neither was intoxicated, but "both men had been at the bar for a few hours"), but I'm sure that violence occurs too often (in bars, at sporting events, and other places) for seemingly minor issues.