Report: Pacers fan charged for stabbing Knicks fans at Indiana brewery during NBA playoffs

An Indiana Pacers fan has been charged after he reportedly stabbed two New York Knicks fans at a brewery during Game 2 of the NBA’s Eastern Conference Finals. According to Fox 59, 24-year-old Jarrett Funke has been charged with one count of battery by means of a deadly weapon, one count of battery resulting in serious bodily injury and one count of criminal recklessness committed with a deadly weapon. All three charges are felonies.

The Carmel Police Department in Indiana was called to a brewery on May 23 for a reported disturbance. The Pacers were playing the Knicks in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals that evening. Police were initially called because of an alleged fight involving a man, later identified as Jarret Funke. But once Funke left the brewery, police were then told they did not need to respond.

A few minutes later, an employee from the brewery called the police and said that Funke had reportedly returned to the patio. The caller stated that Funke reportedly stabbed a man in the back. When police arrived, they found two people with wounds. One person was stabbed in the back and the other person had a laceration in his lower leg.

Pacers fan claims the two Knicks fans attacked him first

The two victims said Funke allegedly approached them at the bar. Funke reportedly “smacked” the Knicks hat off of one victim before he was taken outside. Around five minutes later, the two victims were outside on the patio when Funke returned and attacked them.

Funke reportedly told police the two Knicks fans were “talking s**t” and claimed they started the altercation. He then claimed that one of the victims pushed him to the ground and  “began punching him in the face.” Funke then reportedly said he “retrieved his pocketknife from his hoodie and swung it around towards (one of the Knicks fans) back with his right hand.” Funke’s initial hearing was set for Tuesday afternoon in Hamilton County.

The Pacers defeated the Knicks 114-109 in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals. A couple of days later, the Knicks defeated the Pacers 106-100 in Game 3, but the Pacers still have a 2-1 lead in the series. Game 4 will be played on Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET.