Goose have issued a heartfelt tribute after a 51-year-old man died following a fall at the band’s Madison Square Garden concert on Saturday, June 20.
Police identified the man as Paul Kueker of Niantic, Connecticut. According to authorities, officers responding to a 911 call at about 9:51pm found him unconscious and unresponsive after he fell from an elevated position inside the arena. He was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
The New York Police Department said Kueker was in Section 300, and investigators have said they do not suspect foul play.
He had reportedly gone to the concert with his wife, Kristen, as the couple marked their 25th wedding anniversary.
According to the New York Police Department, officers discovered the father of two
“unconscious and unresponsive”
after he fell from an
“elevated position”
inside Madison Square Garden, the New York Post reported.
His mother told the outlet that her son
‘left for the restroom and never returned to her seat’.
She also said:
“He has two children, a beautiful wife, and he took care of me like I was a piece of gold.”
After the fall, Paul was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
The band have since addressed the tragedy in a joint statement shared on Instagram.
“We are all reeling following the events that occurred at last nights show. Getting off stage to learn that news was devastating for us and our crew, and we cannot imagine how some of you left the show feeling last night,”
they wrote alongside an image of trees beneath a blue sky.
In the longer message, Goose members Rick Mitarotonda, Trevor Weeks, Peter Anspach, and Cotter Ellis said they were arranging to
‘host community gatherings with licensed therapists’
for people impacted by what happened.
The group also explained that they had considered whether to continue with their scheduled Central Park performance, but ultimately felt it was
‘the right thing to do’
so fans could come together and
‘lean on one another’.
“So let’s be kind to each other tonight and remember our friend,”
they added, while announcing that
“all proceeds will benefit Western Sun Foundation’s fan support fund.”
During the Central Park concert, the Post said the band began by offering condolences to Paul’s loved ones.
“In moments like this, you realize life is so fragile and we’re so lucky to have an incredible community here around us,” they said. “Everybody, if you’re struggling with something, please don’t be afraid to reach out to somebody in your life or send us a message.”
Witnesses said multiple rows were emptied after the fall, while some concertgoers claimed the man dropped from the upper 200 or 300 section to level 100.
Police have said there is no suspicion of criminality, though the investigation remains ongoing.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in a mental health crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.