Correction: The LAPD, which stated this morning that the victim is not an officer, now says the department believes he is a former LAPD cop. The headline has changed.

A fan's brutal beating in the Angel Stadium of Anaheim parking lot over the weekend just turned into a major case.

That's because the victim is a 43-year-old former member of the Los Angeles Police Department who was off-duty at the time, according to a report last night by ABC Los Angeles. [The LAPD is now saying the victim is a former member of the force.]

The attack happened about 10:30 Friday night after the Angels lost to the Kansas City Royals, police said. The strange thing about the incident is that witnesses told reporters both the victim and the perpetrator were wearing …

]

 … Angels gear and appeared to be fans of the Anaheim-based team.

Bystanders said the perp approached the victim from behind, hit him, perhaps more than once, and ran off, all in rapid succession. No words were exchanged, they said.

The victim is also a former U.S. Marine, according to ABC Los Angeles. He was reported to be in critical condition.

“He was severely beaten,” Anaheim police Lt. Bob Dunn said. “No weapons were used.”


Police would only say that the victim lived in Huntington Beach.

The attack might seem to echo the beating of Giants fan Bryan Stow at Dodger Stadium in 2011. Stow was wearing Giants garb during a San Francisco-L.A. game, and team rivalry was believed to have been involved.

Two men, Louie Sanchez and Marvin Norwood, eventually pleaded guilty, and Stow's family has sued the Dodgers twice. Stow, a former paramedic, sustained disabling brain damage in the attack.

[Added at 1:36 p.m.]: The LAPD stated this afternoon that “we have been able to determine that the person assaulted was a former LAPD officer who separated from the Department in 2012.”

With reporting from City News Service. Send feedback and tips to the author. Follow Dennis Romero on Twitter at @dennisjromero. Follow LA Weekly News on Twitter at @laweeklynews.

Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.