Rock band playing at Madison Square Garden when fan, 51, plunged to his death break silence... as investigators probe his final moments

By JOE HUTCHISON, US SENIOR NEWS REPORTER and SOPHIA BAUM Published: 12:53, 22 June 2026 | Updated: 12:54, 22 June 2026 Rock band Goose said they are 'reeling' after one of their fans plunged to his death inside Madison Square Garden during their concert.  Paul Kueker, 51, plummeted 150 feet at a concert for the jam band shortly on Saturday night inside the New York City arena.  In a post to Instagram on Sunday, the band said: 'We are all reeling following the events that occurred at last night's show.  'Getting off stage to learn that news was devastating for us and our crew, and we cannot imagine how some of you left the show feeling last night.' The statement also shared local and national crisis helplines and said they are working to host gatherings with therapists and grief counselors present.  It continued that they are working to establish a fund via Western Sun Foundation to provide support and resources for fans. The band also said their Sunday night show in Central Park would go ahead as planned saying they wanted to 'bring our community together'. It ended: 'So let's be kind to each other tonight and remember our friend.' Paul Kueker, seen with his sister Kricket Kueker Kent, plummeted 150 feet from the Chase Bridge at a Goose concert shortly before 10pm on Saturday Kueker's grieving mother described him as 'the greatest kid in the entire world,' seen with his son Garin, daughter Khloe and wife Kristen Lomme Kueker 'He was the greatest kid in the whole wide world,' Kueker’s grieving mother, Patricia Finelli, told the New York Post through tears.  'He’d give you the shirt off his back,' she added. 'He has two children, a beautiful wife, and he took care of me like I was a piece of gold.'  The incident unfolded during the Connecticut band's set on the second night of their two-show run at the iconic Manhattan venue. According to the New York Police Department, officers responded to urgent reports of a fall inside the arena and found the man unconscious and unresponsive at 9.51pm. Within moments, sections of seating were cordoned off as emergency responders made their way through the crowded venue. Kueker was taken to Bellevue Hospital by an ambulance, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. One image of the aftermath, shared by a concertgoer, showed several seats caved in at the venue as police tape surrounded the scene. The Chase Bridge, where Kueker dropped from, was constructed in 2013 and is a suspended walkway. Goose released a statement on Sunday following the incident, confirming they would continue with their planned Central Park gig as normal  The group is currently in the middle of a 27-date tour across 19 cities in the US and Canada Witnesses described seeing the moment Kueker fell from the upper level into a lower seating bowl. 'Someone fell. They took him away on a stretcher. They’re not letting us back in our section.  'They’re going in with mops and re-seating us. I’m section 102,' one witness wrote in a thread about the incident. Another who said they were present at the moment of the fall wrote: 'We were there, my friend saw him fall to the section below us.' Police said their investigation is still ongoing. The rock fan, who worked as director of operations for the energy management company Smartcon Solutions, was with his wife at the concert, Fox News reported. Witnesses described seeing the moment Kueker fell from the upper level into a lower seating bowl The incident unfolded during the Connecticut band Goose's set on the second night of their two-show run at the iconic Manhattan venue  'We are heartbroken by the sudden passing of Paul Kueker,' William Brown, the general manager of Smartcon, said in a statement. 'Paul meant the world to everyone at Smartcon. He was an extraordinary person and a valued member of our team, and the loss is felt deeply across our entire company.  'Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time. He will be profoundly missed.' The band later released a statement saying they were 'heartbroken.' 'We are deeply saddened and heartbroken to learn of the tragic event that occurred at last night's show. We extend our deepest sympathy to everyone affected,' they wrote. The band also gave thanks to the emergency personnel and venue staff. The group, made up of Rick Mitarotonda, Trevor Weeks, Peter Anspach and Cotter Ellis - is currently in the middle of a 27-date tour across 19 cities in the US and Canada. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? 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