Cops: Saints fan shoots two 49ers fans after loss

(CBS/AP)

DULUTH, Ga. - An angry New Orleans Saints fan shot two San Francisco 49ers fans in a restaurant parking lot Saturday evening shortly after his team lost the NFL divisional playoff game, police said.

Donald Ray Ayro, 31, reportedly became upset with two 49ers fans while watching the game at an Applebee's restaurant. New Orleans lost, 36-32.

One of the two San Francisco boosters, Corey Adams, told CBS Affiliate WGCL that Ayro made a comment he would be back for them, and left the restaurant.

According to police, when the men were leaving Ayro met them in the parking lot and began shooting. Christopher Middleton was shot in the stomach and transported to the hospital in critical condition, WGCL reports. Adams suffered a minor wound to the head. He was treated at the scene and released.

Ayro fled the scene but Gwinnett County Police caught up with him a short time later. He is charged with two counts of aggravated assault, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Ayro is being being held in the Gwinnett County Jail without bond.

Customer Dwight Peters told WGCL correspondent Sonia Moghe that "a lot of liquor" was probably behind the shooting. "It's a playoff game, emotions are high . . . But you know, it's an isolated incident."

A statement released by Applebee's said, "Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and families of this senseless tragedy."

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by cbs_bull January 17, 2012 8:38 AM EST: Someone might say football kills people, let's ban NFL ...; Reply to this comment

by mecanik-2009 January 16, 2012 9:07 PM EST

Sportsaholics are addicted to sports. There's no getting around the fact that sports can be an addiction. It can take over your life and create problems similar to alcohol.

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by vissionquest January 16, 2012 10:09 PM EST: Sounds like a defence lawyer already making the excuses for this idiot. The shooter is responsible, and looking for some reason why he is not responsible is an insult to human beings.


by fresno500 January 16, 2012 8:16 PM EST: Get this guy off the street. If he gets this excited over a NFL game what happens when some woman breaks his heart or something else that life has in store for him and all of us.

This guy can't separate reality and BS. This is EXACTLY what prisons are for.; Reply to this comment

by talkin2u January 16, 2012 6:42 PM EST

This may be fare fetched but I believe it: I think that the lawless culture that the NFL has fostered....lawless players who are allowed to play....fans who are permitted to be drunk in the stands of stadiums and in parking lots before and after games. Senseless violence and hostility hangs in the air and there is constant violence that permeates the NFL community. This is a tragedy that was bound to happen and will happen again if if the majors, NFL, MLB, NHL and NBA don't do something to change the culture of their games.

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by jeffkro January 16, 2012 7:51 PM EST: Wow, you can't even avoid these psychotic sports nuts by not going to games, except maybe in Canada.

by noloyalisti January 16, 2012 6:32 PM EST

Guns don't kill people, they just make it real easy. My guess is that this is one idiot of millions that should not have any access to firearms. But since our laws are written in part for gun manufacturers profits above human life, we have to expect this more and more.

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by mecanik-2009 January 16, 2012 9:03 PM EST: What an ignorant statement. You probably don't even live here.


by offthefence January 17, 2012 12:43 PM EST: That gun wasn't registered. Not to him at least.


by bromo999 January 16, 2012 6:22 PM EST: ..they were eating at Applebees fer chrisake.... that's enough to make me want to shoot someone...; Reply to this comment


by domboston64 January 16, 2012 5:48 PM EST: I Cannot Believe that he was charged with,AGGRAVATED ASSAULT,AND NOT ATTEMPTED MURDER,WHAT IS WRONG WITH US!!! WHERE IS THE JUSTICE IN THIS NATION HEADING?; Reply to this comment

by longtree-2009 January 16, 2012 5:40 PM EST

how can that not be attempted murder? he told them he would be back for them and brought a gun, started shooting to kill. he planned to kill them and implemented his plan.

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by jeffkro January 16, 2012 7:52 PM EST: hence attempted


by vissionquest January 16, 2012 10:15 PM EST: Why do we punish criminals less, if they do not succeed in the crime they are trying to commit? If his intent was to kill someone, why does he get a lighter sentence if the doctors are skilled enough to save the victims. He wanted to murder, he should be punished for being a murderer.


by lilbear925 January 16, 2012 4:44 PM EST: Another felon with a gun...he should rot in jail for the rest of his life for this.; Reply to this comment

by smittyc January 16, 2012 3:43 PM EST

New Orleans has had 12 murders the first five days of the 2012. Apparently the San Francisco fan was not aware of this fact. My own opinion is the Saints are the greatest football team in the world especially when I'm in New Orleans!

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by keote_poet January 16, 2012 4:50 PM EST: I'm not a 49's fan, but nonetheless...if you're proud of this act, it proves katrina wasn't about a storm, it was about stupid, low-class people taking advantage of each other...apparently they don't know how to act when they lose...I'm glad the saints lost, their fans are low-lifes..