Police investigate death of Gouverneur man involved in bar fight

GOUVERNEUR, New York (WWNY) - The Gouverneur Police Department is investigating the death of man who was involved in a bar fight last week.

Officials said 39-year-old Andrew D. Johnston was found dead at his 18 Johnstown Street apartment approximately 12 hours after the fight.

According to police, Johnston was involved in a fight at the Serendipity Bar in Gouverneur at around 1:30 a.m. on Sunday, February 13.

Shortly after 1 p.m. that same day, police and rescue crews were called to Johnston’s apartment, where he was found dead.

According to police, an autopsy was performed, but the cause and manner of Johnston’s death are pending further investigation.

We spoke with Danylle Gerstel, Johnston’s longtime partner, who lives near Albany.

She says Johnston was at the bar with a friend, when 2 guys came in, suckered punched the friend, and then attacked Johnston while he was playing pool.

“His friend had stated by the time he realized what happened, he turned around and Andy was already was on the ground and there was a fight going on. He believed Andy was unconscious at that point,” said Gerstel.

Gerstel says Johnston died of a lacerated spleen from a broken rib.

Sources tell 7 News police are working with surveillance video from the scene.

Village police are asking people with information about the bar fight to contact them at 315-287-2121.

Officials said they don’t believe there’s a threat to the public.

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