David Brown was identified as the teammate hospitalized after a fight broke out with Evah Tohi on Saturday night, according to a police report from APD.
Brown, who is from Albuquerque and graduated from Eldorado High School, is in his third year on the team but has not seen the field. He also plays linebacker like Tohi.
According to a report from KOB, no charges were filed after the altercation occurred.
Brown’s mother, Marissa Brown, reported the incident on Sunday morning.
Tohi practiced with the team on Monday and Tuesday before his suspension was reported on Tuesday night by KOB and subsequently confirmed by the team.
Both Brown and Tohi were at a party on Saturday night, according to the report.
As stated in the report, which was obtained by multiple local outlets, Tohi, and Brown got into a scuffle over name-calling, in which Tohi referred to Brown as “Brownie.”
After the name-calling, Brown chest bumped Tohi multiple times. That’s when Tohi punched him in response.
A witness, identified as Ritshley Bissereth, is included in the report and is identified as a teammate of Brown’s. The witness is not listed as a current member of the UNM football roster, and there is no one listed in the UNM directory under that name.
According to the witness, he believed Tohi and Brown to be play fighting before Tohi punched Brown in the face and chest.
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According to the report, two other teammates tried to stop Tohi from hitting Brown, though Tohi was able to land another shot to the face of Brown.
That’s when, according to the report, Brown fell to the floor unconscious. Friends of Brown took him to the hospital.
According to his mother, he is suffering from internal bleeding on the right side of his brain.
She told police that she found out about the altercation from Tohi, and that he was visiting Brown when she went to see him.
Head coach Bob Davie said Wednesday that he learned about the fight on Sunday but was still gathering information. According to the Albuquerque Journal, the situation will be allowed to play out before a decision is made about Tohi's suspension.
Tohi is expected to be replaced on the field this weekend by Brandon Shook, who has recorded 11 tackles and forced two fumbles in limited action so far this year. Shook’s best game of the season came against the University of the Incarnate Word in the opener when he recorded three tackles and one forced fumble.
Cameron Goeldner is a sports beat reporter and photographer for the Daily Lobo. He primarily covers men’s soccer, women’s basketball, softball and the Albuquerque Isotopes, but also contributes content for baseball, basketball, football and track and field. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @goeldfinger.
Matthew Narvaiz is a senior sports reporter for the Daily Lobo. He primarily covers football, however, he also contributes content for other sports. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @matt_narvaiz.
