ARLINGTON, Texas -- A fan who died Thursday after falling from the outfield stands while reaching for a ball thrown by Texas Rangers All-Star outfielder Josh Hamilton has been identified.

The victim was Shannon Stone, a 39-year-old firefighter from Brownwood, Texas. Stone was a lieutenant and had been with the Brownwood Fire

Department for nearly 18 years, city manager Bobby Rountree said. Brownwood is about 150 miles southwest of Arlington.

Police and fans look over the railing where Shannon Stone fell from the stands at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington in July. AP Photo/Jeffery Washington

Arlington Fire Department officials told The Associated Press that Stone went "into full arrest" as he was transported by ambulance to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, where he was pronounced dead.

Stone fell approximately 20 feet onto concrete Thursday night, tumbling into a gap between the left-field railing and the left field wall, which contains a videoboard with the out-of-town scores. Stone's 6-year-old son, Cooper, witnessed the fall.

"We are deeply saddened to learn that the man who fell has passed away as a result of this tragic accident," Rangers president/CEO Nolan Ryan said in a statement Thursday. "Our thoughts and prayers are with his family."

Stone is survived by his wife, Jenny, and son, according to Melanie Larose, a family friend who released a

statement on behalf of the family Friday.

"The Stone family is devastated by this tragedy," the statement said.

"The family appreciates your thoughts, kind words and prayers and

asks that you respect their privacy during their difficult time."

Stone's mother, Suzann, told The Associated Press her son had gone to the ballpark in hopes of catching a ball. Suzann Stone said Friday that Shannon Stone and his son had even stopped on the way to Arlington on Thursday to buy Cooper a new glove.

The flags at Rangers Ballpark have been lowered to half-staff in memory of Stone. The club also will observe a moment of silence before Friday night's game against the A's.

"All of us at Major League Baseball are shocked and saddened over the tragic death of Mr. Stone last evening. Our thoughts and prayers are with his son and his entire family," Major League Baseball said in a statement issued Friday. "Major League Baseball has the utmost sensitivity to the safety of all the fans that come to our ballparks. Our players are encouraged to be fan-friendly and we will carefully review this incident with our clubs to continue to ensure a safe environment for our fans."

The left-field wall is 14 feet high, and Stone fell head-first over the railing, which is a few feet higher. There was an audible gasp in the stands when Stone tumbled over the railing, eerily similar to an accident in July 2010, when a man fell about 30 feet from the second deck of seats down the right-field line while trying to catch a foul ball. The area where Stone fell Thursday is out of sight from the field.

Stone, wearing a blue Rangers cap and white Rangers shirt, was seated in the front row with his son. According to others seated near him, Stone was yelling at Hamilton for a foul ball that was hit by Conor Jackson and ricocheted into left field in the second inning. Hamilton flipped the ball toward Stone, who leaned over, caught it and toppled over into the gap.