Man, 72, seriously assaulted on Baltimore bus after he wouldn't stop coughing, police say

Block of East Fayette where attack happened

A 72-year-old bus passenger was seriously injured after allegedly being assaulted by other passengers who were angry that he was coughing on the bus, on March 19 in East Baltimore.

The incident happened at about 1:30 p.m. March 19, on East Fayette near Montford Avenue.

Maryland Transit Administration did not provide details on the incident until today.

According to the report, two female passengers demanded that the victim stop coughing.

The victim said he wasn't coughing on purpose and that he couldn't help it.

The females allegedly kept yelling at the victim, and a man got involved in the argument as well.

The man told the victim, "Watch your mouth, those are young ladies you're talking to." The victim responded: "I am an old man, I'm 70 years old." The man responded: "I'm 60 years old."

The man then allegedly pushed the victim, face down, to the floor of the bus.

The suspect, and the two females, then fled from the bus.

The victim was unconscious from the fall. He was taken to Johns Hopkins Hospital in serious but stable condition. MTA said he was apparently released from the hospital.

The suspect is identified only as a black male, about 60 years old, last seen wearing a gray shirt. The other two are described only as a black female, about 30 years old, wearing a pink jacket; and a black female with no clothing description.

The male suspect had boarded the bus at East Fayette and North Washington streets.