An unexpected and unsettling incident shook the NFL community this weekend when Matthew Golden, rookie wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers, was briefly detained by Chicago police just hours after a fatal stabbing at the UIC Halsted Blue Line station late Saturday night.
According to police, the suspect was described as “wearing a pink beanie, a dark jacket, and carrying a knife.” Golden, who was leaving a nearby restaurant around the same time, happened to be wearing a light pink hoodie and matched the general description. He was taken in for questioning but released shortly after authorities confirmed he had no involvement in the attack.
️ The tragic incident at the station
The victim, a 27 year old woman, was fatally stabbed in the chest while sitting alone on a bench at the station. The attacker fled the scene and remains at large. The tragedy comes just three months after Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian refugee, was murdered on a light rail train in Charlotte, sparking growing concern over the safety of public transportation across major US cities.
Matthew Golden speaks out
Following his release, Matthew Golden took to social media to calmly address the situation:
“It was just a misunderstanding. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and I guess my pink hoodie didn’t help. I’m just glad everything got cleared up and I can focus on football again.”
His composed statement immediately earned praise from fans for his maturity and grace under pressure.
Packers respond
A spokesperson for the Green Bay Packers issued an official statement shortly after the misunderstanding was cleared:
“Matthew fully cooperated with the authorities and has been confirmed to have no connection to the case. We’re thankful he’s safe and focused on returning to football.”
Quarterback Jordan Love also reacted with relief when asked about the incident:
“When I first saw his name trending, I thought it was about a big play, not this. We’re just glad he’s fine.”
Fan reactions
The story quickly went viral, flooding social media with sympathy and support for the rookie:
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“He handled it like a pro.”
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“Chicago needs to fix its public safety and ID systems.”
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“Glad Matthew’s okay, Packers Nation’s got your back!”
