Bears Fan Stabbed In Jacksonville Bar During Dispute Before Game

A Bears fan stabbed in a Jacksonville bar during a dispute died early Sunday in an incident the bar’s owner called “a sudden act of violence.”

The incident took place inside Fionn MacCool’s, an Irish-themed restaurant at The Jacksonville Landing. The Bears fan was stabbed when he got into an argument with another patron hours before the Jaguars-Bears game was scheduled to start on Sunday.

The Bears fan stabbed was 42-year-old William C. “Chris” Pettry, who died after the incident, The Associated Press reported. Police are holding 28-year-old Matthew Hinson without bond on a murder charge.

Deputies arrived at about 1:40 am Sunday after being called for a disturbance at the bar. They found the Bears fan stabbed and arrested Hinson at the scene.

Petty had been talking to Hinson’s wife at the bar just before the stabbing, Fox Chicago News reported.

“For some reason, he became jealous, enraged, whatever you want to call it, and approached our victim,” said Jacksonville Sheriff’s Lt. Rob Schoonover. “According to one of the eyewitnesses, he calmly and basically cold-blooded just cut the victim’s throat, and calmly walked out of the restaurant.”

Hinson confessed to the crime and was arrested in his truck shortly after the incident, police said. Police found a small pocket knife that they believe is the murder weapon.

“During a subsequent interview post Miranda, Hinson gives admissions to stabbing the victim but also alleged he does not remember his reasons for doing so,” a police report read.

Toney Slieman, owner of Fionn MacCool’s, said the incident was a “sudden act of violence” and that no amount of security could have prevented it.

The Bears fan stabbed in the incident lived in Lake Villa, Illinois, which is about 50 miles from Chicago. He was visiting Jacksonville specifically to attend the Jaguars-Bears game.