A 19-year-old Arizona man died after being severely beaten during a soccer match at a Phoenix park, an incident that occurred just days before he was scheduled to begin college. Tumusifu Bazirake was playing soccer at Sueno Park on Aug. 6 when the game devolved into a physical altercation with opposing players.
According to the Phoenix Police Department, the attack began after the game concluded, with several suspects assaulting Bazirake and his brother, Jeanpaul. Jeanpaul Bazirake told WKYC that the opponents became enraged after losing the match, leading to the assault. "We scored on them, and they got mad and all that," he stated.
During the fight, which reportedly lasted about 20 minutes, Tumusifu Bazirake attempted to shield his brother from the attackers. Jeanpaul described witnessing his brother being overwhelmed and repeatedly struck, kicked, and stepped on while on the ground. "He was on the ground, and they were just stepping on him while he’s on the ground. Stepping, kicking, punching — all that," he recounted.
The assailants fled the park once they realized Bazirake was unresponsive. Emergency services found him unconscious and transported him to a local hospital in critical condition. Bazirake succumbed to his injuries on Aug. 13, prompting authorities to launch a homicide investigation. His cause of death is pending an autopsy.
As of the latest reports, no arrests have been made, and no suspects or persons of interest have been publicly identified by police. The family of Tumusifu Bazirake shared that he had plans to start his first semester at community college on August 24 and aspired to become a firefighter. His mother, speaking through a translator, emphasized his dedication to education and his desire to help others.
A GoFundMe campaign has been established to assist the family with funeral expenses.