Background: The person police allege to be Montray McCray (WBAL/YouTube). Inset: Claudia Bismark (Facebook).
A woman in Maryland died after authorities say she and her husband were attacked as they left one of their favorite restaurants, with the suspect allegedly striking the victim while she was already on the ground.
Montray McCray, 32, has been charged with assault, robbery and reckless endangerment, the Baltimore Police Department announced on Thursday. Claudia Bismark, 76, was identified as the victim who died, local Fox affiliate WBFF reported.
On Tuesday morning, Bismark and her 60-year-old husband were at Vikki's Fells Point Deli inside Broadway Market in Baltimore, Maryland, apparently one of their favorite places.
As they were leaving, McCray was apparently inside the establishment. The owner, who has known the couple for decades, said she watched video from inside the market and saw that as an employee gave the couple their change, McCray walked past them.
"He saw, then he went down and sat at the table, watched them and followed them out," Vikki Powers told area NBC affiliate WBAL.
Surveillance footage from a nearby business showed Bismark and her husband walking hand in hand down the street when someone shoved them to the ground. The suspect reportedly grabbed the husband's wallet and struck the woman as she appeared to try to get up from the ground.
The Baltimore Police Department responded to the scene, where officers spoke with the victims. Bismark and her husband told officers they were attacked and robbed by a man who then ran away.
"Both victims were transported to an area hospital for medical treatment," police said. Two days later, on Thursday, Bismark died from her injuries.
McCray was arrested on Thursday and booked into the Baltimore City Booking Intake Center. The police department said on Thursday that upgraded charges are "pending."
Court records reviewed by Law&Crime show that the defendant was scheduled to have a bail/bond review on Oct. 2 and then a preliminary hearing on Oct. 29.
Bismark was remembered — and celebrated — at a vigil this week, as local ABC affiliate WMAR reported.
"She was a light," Keya Little, a friend, said. "She was one of the best people I know, very generous, very caring, very funny."
Kate Norris called Bismark "her closest friend."
"I came down to honor Claudia and [her husband] because they are pillars of this community," Norris added. "They believed in community."