Wednesday night’s Dodgers game drew the usual crowd to Chavez Ravine. Just a few hundred yards away, something far more somber was unfolding.
Los Angeles police responded to a call near the intersection of Bernard Street and Stadium Way around 8:48 p.m.
Officers found a man dead, just outside the stadium where the Dodgers and Cardinals were still playing. Shohei Ohtani and the rest of the Dodgers roster remained on the field at the time, with no indication anyone inside the stadium was aware of what was happening nearby.
The man had not been identified at the time of writing.
Officers Responded After 911 Calls Described A Body In Plain Sight
Callers first alerted the authorities after spotting the body from the road, according to police audio reviewed by the New York Post.
Multiple callers described seeing the man in plain sight before officers arrived on the scene. Police confirmed the death and began an investigation at the location shortly after.
An LAPD spokesperson later said investigators don’t suspect foul play.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s office confirmed the case remains pending identification and notification of next of kin, meaning the man’s name has not yet been made public. Officials haven’t said how long that process is expected to take.
The location sits less than half a mile from home plate, close enough that emergency vehicles likely passed within view of fans arriving or leaving the stadium. Wednesday’s game ran from 7:10 p.m. to roughly 10:10 p.m., so the discovery happened while the game was still in progress and fans inside the stadium remained completely unaware.
The Dodgers ultimately lost to the Cardinals in extra innings, 8-6, closing out a tense back-and-forth contest that stretched well past regulation.
The Investigation Is Still Ongoing
LAPD has not released further details about the man’s identity or the circumstances leading up to his death.
The department continues investigating alongside the medical examiner’s office as they work to notify his family. Police have not indicated whether any additional information will be released before the man is formally identified.
Dodger Stadium has hosted its share of unrelated incidents over the years, though nothing directly comparable to Wednesday night’s discovery. For now, the investigation remains active, and authorities have asked anyone with relevant information to come forward.
This is a sensitive topic. If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline offers free, confidential support. Call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org.
