A New York State man was charged with negligent homicide last Tuesday after police say he shoved an 80-year-old man who confronted him in a bar about not wearing a face mask amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Donald Lewinski, 65, was confronted by Rocco Sapienza inside a bar near Buffalo, The New York Times reported. Lewinski allegedly shoved Sapienza with two hands to the ground, and five days later Sapienza died from blunt force trauma to the head, according to a preliminary autopsy report.
“It’s beyond sad these kinds of situations have continued to escalate, and this should cause everyone to pause and think twice about how we as a society want to conduct ourselves during this pandemic,” John J. Flynn, the Erie County district attorney said, according to the paper.
Flynn told reporters he believes this was the first death tied to a physical confrontation over wearing a mask, CBS News reported. New York State demands that patrons inside bars wear masks when they leave their tables.
The NYT reported Lewinski was seen leaving his seat several times on video, and police said he made “lewd comments” during his time at the bar, which might have contributed to the confrontation.
Sapienza, a former Marine, and Lewinski were reportedly at Pamp’s Red Zone Bar & Grill for a few hours before the confrontation and were considered to be regulars. Sapienza’s son told CBS News his father was well-liked but “wasn’t afraid to call somebody out for being stupid.”
More to Come
Across the U.S., as evidenced by the numerous videos on social media, there have been countless disputes between individuals who refuse to wear masks that have resulted in fistfights and passengers being booted off flights.
Last week, a man was thrown off an Allegiant flight from Arizona to Utah for refusing to wear a mask and engaging in a verbal confrontation with another passenger.
TREND FORECAST: We estimate some 38 percent of Americans are against the COVID War and will resist those who demand they join the battle.
We estimate that another 28 percent, while not resistors, signed up to fight the COVID War because they lack the courage to disobey orders from their leaders and do not Think for Themselves. Therefore, if the side they joined is losing the battle, they will surrender to the stronger force.
