They will both receive 15 months probation, their charges dismissed and their records expunged. if they complete it successfully.
(Updated March 2023): A woman has come forward on Twitter, identifying herself as the owner of the wheelchair that was (inexplicably) pushed down the stairs by three Mercyhurst student-athletes, including Carson Briere, who have now was suspended by the school. The GoFundMe to help buy a new wheelchair for Sydney stands at more than $8,800 at the time of publishing this article.
Yesterday, a tweet began circulating on Twitter allegedly showing the Mercyhurst men’s hockey player Carson Briereson of a former NHL player and current Philadelphia Flyers General manager Daniel Briere and another unidentified man inexplicably throw an empty wheelchair down the stairs of Sullivan’s Pub in Erie, Pennsylvania. Seconds later, with the wheelchair overturned a floor down, the two men stroll casually through the pub, as nonchalantly as if they had thrown a red Solo cup in the trash instead of throwing away access to the world of someone on a staircase.
Deadspin reached out to the Mercyhurst athletic department last night, but received no response. This morning, the school released a statement all but confirming that one of the men was Briere.
Where it started
Here is the original tweet and statement:
Julia Zukowski, who posted the original tweet thread, confirmed to Deadspin that the man in the white hat is Briere. Zukowski tweeted that the wheelchair was left at the top of the stairs because the woman using it (who wishes to remain anonymous) had to be carried downstairs to use the restroom. So not only did this woman have to deal with an inaccessible toilet, but she also had a few assholes throw her chair down the stairs for no reason that anyone could discern. A GoFundMe was created to help women buy a new chair.
Deadspin also attempted to contact Briere for comment, but received no response prior to publication of the story. However, Zukowski shared this direct message from Brière that she received on Instagram shortly after the article went viral:
This is where I stop you from sending me emails with your “boys will be boys!” » nonsense about how boys don’t know why they destroy things, how their brains aren’t fully developed, blah blah blah. Carson Brière is not a child. He is a 24 year old hockey player whose father works at the highest level of hockey. This is bullying, plain and simple. It goes without saying that the only reason a wheelchair is left unattended in a public space is because 1) someone is using it or 2) someone will need to use it. It’s the equivalent of grabbing a wheelchair at the entrance to your grocery store and ramming it into a display full of canned corn. Silly. Cruel. Absolutely unbalanced.
According to Mercyhurst’s statement, the school is investigating. Deadspin reached out to the Erie Police Department to determine if they were also investigating the case but, at the time of publication, we had not received a response.
(Update): After this story was published, Dan Spizarney, Chief of the City of Erie Police Department, contacted Deadspin with the following statement: “We are aware of the incident, a report was recently completed, we have begun investigation, but at this time we cannot make further comments.
We will continue to update this story as more information becomes available or if anyone decides to comment.
(Update): Carson Briere admitted to pushing the wheelchair and gave a statement to TMZ Sports: “There is no excuse for my actions,” he told the outlet. “and I will do everything I can to make up for this serious lapse in judgment.”
After confessing, Brière says he is “deeply sorry” for his behavior.
Her father had this to say, according to TMZ: “They are inexcusable and completely go against our family’s values of treating people with respect.” Carson is truly sorry and accepts full responsibility for his behavior.
(Update): Brière and two other student-athletes were suspended.