The Boston Licensing Board last Thursday week ruled that the American Legion Old Dorchester Post 65 in Adams Corner could not have prevented a man from getting punched and knocked into unconsciousness on Dec. 27, leaving him so close to death that police called in the homicide unit just in case.

The panel voted to not hold the bar responsible, ruling that the attack was “unforeseeable.”

According to police and the bartender on duty at the time, the incident started around closing that night. At a hearing last week, the bartender said she told two men they’d had enough to drink and that it was time for them to leave. They agreed, but one asked if he could use the restroom first, she said.

On the way there, though, police say, Ryan McEleney-Lynch, 24, of Quincy, punched the victim hard enough to knock him out. Whether the man suffered life-threatening injuries from the punch or from hitting his head on something before he collapsed to the floor, however, was unclear. Still, by the time police arrived, he was in bad shape.

The man has, so far, survived, so McEleney-Lynch at this point is facing charges of aggravated assault and battery. The bartender said the victim and a friend of his had only been in the post for about 30 minutes. In contrast, McEleney-Lynch had been there for “a few hours,” knocking back beers but causing no problems, she said.

She added she didn’t know the victim but recognized McEleney-Lynch because he had been there before. He had gotten into occasional verbal scuffles, but nothing serious, she said.

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A Boston man was killed early Sunday morning when his arm became stuck in the door of a Red Line subway car as it pulled away from Broadway station. Authorities identified the man Monday as Robinson Lalin, 39.

The district attorney’s office, MBTA police, and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating.

Foul play is not suspected, according to Jim Borghesani, a spokesperson for the Suffolk district attorney’s office. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.