Watch CBS News

Man cuts Chicago Bears fan's throat in Fla., then 'calmly walked' away, witnesses say

William Christopher Pettry, 42, died after an altercation in Jacksonville, Fla. Facebook

(CBS/AP) JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Authorities say a Chicago Bears fan who came to Jacksonville for the Bears-Jaguars football game had his throat slashed inside a bar.

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office says 42-year-old William Pettry died early Sunday inside Fionn MacCool's, an Irish-themed restaurant at The Jacksonville Landing.

Twenty-seven-year-old Matthew Hinson is now being held without bond on a murder charge.

A news release issued by the sheriff's office on Monday says witnesses told detectives that Hinson cut Pettry's throat, put the bloody knife in his pocket and calmly walked out of the restaurant.

Pettry lived in Lake Villa, Ill., about 50 miles north of Chicago.

According to CBS Chicago, Pettry's cousin, Quincy Asbury Jr. said Pettry flew to Florida on Friday to go to the Bears-Jaguars game.

Relatives say Pettry was a contractor and the married father of three children who range in age from five to 15 and was a huge Bears fan, CBS Chicago reports. His aunt, Lillie Asbury said he rarely took vacations.

"He was so happy. He posted on Facebook, 'I'm off to see the Bears play,'" she said.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.