Police in England have arrested a man on suspicion of manslaughter in connection with the death of Adam Johnson during a Nottingham Panthers hockey game last month.
The arrest was first reported by the BBC.
Johnson, 29, died after his neck was cut during a game against the Sheffield Steelers on Oct. 28.
South Yorkshire Police said a man had been arrested on Tuesday and remained in custody. They have not named the individual at this time.
“Our investigation launched immediately following this tragedy and we have been carrying out extensive enquiries ever since to piece together the events which led to the loss of Adam in these unprecedented circumstances,” Detective Chief Superintendent Becs Horsfall said in a statement.
“We have been speaking to highly specialised experts in their field to assist in our enquiries and continue to work closely with the health and safety department at Sheffield City Council, which is supporting our ongoing investigation.”
Johnson, from Hibbing, Minn., had appeared in 13 NHL games with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2019 and 2020. He was playing for Nottingham in a Challenge Cup game against the Sheffield Steelers.
According to South Yorkshire Police, a post-mortem examination confirmed he died as a result of a fatal neck injury.
“Adam’s death has sent shockwaves through many communities, from our local residents here in Sheffield to ice hockey fans across the world,” Det. Chief Supt. Horsfall said. “We know these communities will expect us to handle this investigation with the same professionalism, fairness and sensitivity as any other and request that members of the public refrain from comment and speculation which could hinder this process. Our thoughts remain with all affected by this devastating incident as enquiries continue.”
— With files from The Associated Press
