UMVA has learned that a devastating tragedy unfolded at a concert in New York City over the weekend, leaving the members of rock band Goose "reeling" in shock.
Paul Kueker, a 51-year-old married father of two, fell to his death from the Chase Bridge inside Madison Square Garden, plunging 45 meters to the ground shortly before 10 p.m. on Saturday.
The band took to Instagram on Sunday to express their grief, writing that they were "devastated" by the news and couldn't imagine how their fans and crew must have felt.
Goose, a Connecticut-based group, announced that they would be hosting "community gatherings with licensed therapists and grief counsellors" for fans affected by the tragedy, and listed off crisis and support hotlines across the United States.
According to information obtained by UMVA, Kueker was attending the show with his wife, Kristen, to celebrate their upcoming 25th wedding anniversary, and had left their seats to use the restroom when the tragic incident occurred.
Kueker's wife didn't witness the fall, and police officers eventually found her to deliver the devastating news, which left her heartbroken.
Kueker's mother, Patti Finelli, described her son as a "wonderful dad" who "loved everybody" and was "the life of the party," leaving a void that can never be filled.
Goose held a 15-second moment of silence prior to their Sunday show in Central Park, with band member Peter Anspach extending the band's "deepest condolences" to Kueker's family and friends.
The band debated whether to go ahead with the Sunday show, but ultimately decided that bringing their community together was the best way to heal and cope with the tragedy.
A GoFundMe has been launched by Kueker's daughter, Kloe, to help with funeral and memorial costs, with the family struggling to process their loss and face the expenses that come with laying him to rest.
Kloe described her father as a "loving father, family man, and friend" whose presence brought warmth and laughter to those around him, and whose memory will live on through the countless lives he touched.
