SANTA CLARA – A Sacramento man was sentenced Thursday to seven years in state prison for his role in a stabbing last summer during the CONCACAF Gold Cup at Levi’s Stadium, authorities said.
Alejandro Garcia was also denied probation for what Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Aidan Welsh called an “unprovoked attack on three victims” on July 2, 2023.
“We are glad that this violent perpetrator has been held accountable under the law,” Welsh said. “The victims are lucky to be alive. Everybody should feel safe attending sporting events with their families, and there is never an excuse for this kind of senseless violence.”
One of the victims, Emmanuel Diaz Leal Soto, was stabbed near the upper collarbone when a fight broke out in the stands during a soccer match between Qatar and Mexico.
Soto is now suing the city of Santa Clara and the San Francisco 49ers, which manages the stadium. The lawsuit alleges there was insufficient security to prevent someone from bringing a knife to the venue. He is seeking more than $35,000 in damages.
“During the game, fans of both Mexico and Qatar repeatedly taunted and yelled at one another,” the lawsuit said. “Despite the tensions in the stands, and the clear signs of intimidation towards spectators rooting for their respective teams, including Mr. Soto, the Stadium Defendants and/or the Government failed to properly respond or properly address the safety concerns and reasonably intervene to aid Mr. Soto.”
Using “advanced video technology” at the stadium, Santa Clara police identified Garcia as a suspect within 24 hours of the stabbing and arrested him at his home on suspicion of attempted murder.
Police also identified a person of interest, but she was released from custody at the scene.