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New Orleans, LA — The mysterious blackout during Sunday’s Super Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans is not a mystery any longer. SMG, the Superdome’s management company, told reporters this evening that after careful review of their tapes, the culprit has been found.

Paul Covington of SMG explained the situation and how they were able to determine who was responsible for the power outage. “We thoroughly reviewed the security videos from Sunday and during this time witnessed 34-year-old Paul Horner, one of our now ex-employees, setting a timer on the lights,” Covington said. “At first Horner denied the accusations but after viewing footage from the video has since confessed. He claimed to have done it as a tribute to Black History Month.”

Earlier today NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell spoke at a press conference denying rumors that the halftime show somehow caused the blackout. “There’s no indication at all that this was caused by the halftime show,” Goodell said. ”Absolutely none. I know that’s been out there, to say that Beyonce’s halftime show had anything to do with it. That’s not the case from anything we have at this point.”

One of Horner’s longtime friends told reporters they suspected that he was the one responsible for the blackout. “We all knew Paul worked for the company that ran the lights at the Superdome. We also knew how much he loved pulling pranks, well this is his masterpiece I guess,” 39-year-old New Orleans resident Lori Dynneson said. “For him to do it, saying it was a tribute to Black History Month is just classic Horner. I don’t think Paul even has one black friend.”

SMG immediately terminated Horner’s employment after he confessed to being responsible for the 35-minute blackout during Sunday’s Super Bowl. Police have yet to determine if he will face criminal charges or not.