Ravens Ticket Holder Shows Encouraging Signs After Fight
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Joseph Bauer, the 56-year-old was beaten and hospitalized at the Ravens game versus the Raiders Sunday, is showing encouraging signs, by giving a thumbs up Tuesday, according to the Baltimore Sun.
Bauer, a Jessup native, remains in critical condition after police say a verbal altercation turned physical with two men from New York, who were in town to see the Raiders.
"Two individuals had become involved in a verbal altercation with our victim. That verbal altercation became physical. And at some point, the victim was pushed on the ground where he struck his head," said Lt. Jarron Jackson, with the Baltimore Police Department.
Police have identified those two men as 30-year-old Scott Smith, of Mount Vernon, New York, and 31-year-old Andrew Nappi, of Eastchester, New York, as suspects. They were arrested for aggravated assault.
Bauer's sister tells WJZ that the men were upset over someone else cutting a line.
The family member believes the men followed Bauer out of the stadium, hit him in the back of the head and he fell down and hit his head on the concrete.
"Normally what we see is just a healthy rivalry," said Jackon. "I don't know what the cause of the argument was, whether it was the game or something else. But either way, totally unnecessary and uncalled for."
The Ravens organization released this statement about the incident early Monday afternoon:
"Our sympathies and prayers go out to Mr. Joseph Bauer, his wife Sharon and the rest of his family. We have reached out to the family and have received a report on Mr. Bauer's condition. We are deeply concerned about this assault and are learning as much as we can about it. Safety for our fans is a top priority. Confrontational and inflammatory behavior is never tolerated and is unacceptable at Ravens home games."
Police have not said if alcohol played a factor in the argument.
Both suspects have posted bail and are due back in court on October 27, 2016 on first degree assault charges.
Bauer is a Ravens season ticket holder and former U.S. Marine.
His family says he was attending the game with his wife and two family friends.
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