Despite police not naming suspect, it’s widely assumed to be Sheffield Steelers player Matt Petgrave, who kicked Johnson with ice skate blade, slicing open his neck.
UK police on Tuesday announced they have arrested a man on suspicion of manslaughter in connection with the horrifying hockey skate throat slashing death of Nottingham Panthers player Adam Johnson.
Despite police not naming the suspect, it’s widely assumed to be hockey player Matt Petgrave, the Sheffield Steelers player who during a game kicked Johnson with an ice skate blade, slicing open Johnson’s neck.
Here’s Sky News reporting on the event, commenting only that a “man”
has been arrested:
#UPDATE : Sky News has confirmed the initial report #AdamJohnson #mattpetgrave #BREAKING pic.twitter.com/CJzdkZEsmX
— Overton (@OvertonLive) November 14, 2023
“Our investigation launched immediately following this tragedy and we have been carrying out extensive inquiries ever since to piece together the events which led to the loss of Adam in these unprecedented circumstances,” declared South Yorkshire Police Detective Chief Superintendent Becs Horsfall.
The arrest announcement, around 14 days after the incident, comes as footage shows fans at a recent hockey game gave Petgrave a standing ovation.
At the time, Johnson’s aunt Kari described witnessing the deadly collision online from the US, saying, “We saw it happen. It was horrific. It was, it was. I cannot even describe it because nobody should have to live through what we saw.”
“The skate cut right through Adam’s windpipe, and it cut his carotid artery. And, at one point, they had lost him in the ambulance and they brought him back. And, um, he didn’t make it through surgery once they got him to the hospital. They just couldn’t get the bleeding to stop. He lost way too much blood.”
“It was very reckless. I just want them [police] to get it right. We are looking for justice for Adam,” adds Aunt Kari. “You don’t take your leg and kick somebody and cut their throat. I’m sorry.”
Calls for Petgrave to be booked for manslaughter proliferated after footage of the gruesome attack hit social media, with many commenting the kick looked deliberate, while the media claimed it was merely a “freak accident.”
The on-ice throat slashing also sparked a slew of memes.
The Associated Press reports the English Ice Hockey Association has already made changes in response to the death, requiring players to wear neck guards in 2024.