(Sheffield) The Sheffield Police Service, England, said it had made an arrest in the death of hockey player Adam Johnson.
South Yorkshire Police said in a statement on Tuesday that a man had been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and was now in custody.
The press release did not specify the name of the suspect in this case.
Legally, manslaughter means unintentionally causing the death of another person due to recklessness, negligence or an illegal act. In these types of cases, the accused did not intend to kill the person, but failed to act with due care, resulting in the unintentional death.
The player who hit Johnson in the neck was 31-year-old Matt Petgrave, who plays for the Sheffield Steelers.
“Our investigation was launched immediately after this tragedy and we have carried out extensive inquiries since to piece together the events that led to Adam’s death in these unprecedented circumstances,” Detective Chief Superintendent Becs Horsfall said.
Fans held a minute of silence for Johnson during the Steelers’ next game and gave Petgrave a standing ovation.
Johnson, a forward for the Nottingham Panthers of the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL), was struck in the neck by a skate blade during an Oct. 28 game against the Steelers.
His death was pronounced at the hospital. An autopsy confirmed he died from a fatal neck injury.
The English Ice Hockey Association, which oversees the EIHL, responded to Johnson’s death by requiring all hockey players in England to wear the neck guard from 2024.
Johnson, who was 29, was from Grand Rapids, Michigan. He played in 13 games for the Pittsburgh Penguins between 2019 and 2020.
Messages left with Johnson’s agent and a family friend were not immediately returned.
