Man dies after fight at downtown Durham bar

Mark Cromwell, the owner of Social Games and Brews, said Teddy Tivnan was involved in a fight at the bar on June 5. Police were called to the scene, on West Main Street, at about 10:30 p.m.

"It was a random one-off incident," Cromwell said. "It was on community game night, of all nights, our board game night at the bar. And basically the assailant was someone who hadn’t been a customer and who had walked onto the side of the patio. And then the victim was in the process of leaving."

When police arrived, they found Tivnan unconscious on a sidewalk.

Tivnan died at Duke University Hospital two days later, police said.

Now, his family is left with questions surrounding his death.

"We have a large family unit so, you know, members are finding support through various members of that large group, which is nice," said Mary Long, Tivnan's sister.

The family said they are now waiting on an autopsy.

Tivnan leaves behind three children.

"(He was) a person who never met a stranger. He had that gregarious personality and smile that just commanded a room when he walked in," Long said.

Cromwell called the death a "freak occurrence," saying the bar is normally a safe place.

Police are continuing to investigate.