Ravens fan beaten at game shows encouraging signs
The family of 55-year-old Joseph Bauer, who was beaten at Sunday’s Ravens game and hospitalized, reported encouraging signs from the hospital Tuesday.
The Jessup man remained in critical condition with a brain injury, but he gave a thumbs-up at the request of doctors.
“We have been encouraged by some signs we believe indicate he recognizes his wife,” said Susan Bauer, his sister. “The trauma doctor said she is ‘cautiously optimistic’ about his progress and he is trending in the right direction.”
Joseph Bauer continues to breathe on a respirator, she said. The Ravens seasonticket holder suffered a severe brain injury at the game.
Police charged two men from New York with assault. Ravens Coach John Harbaugh called the alleged attack “absolutely inexcusable.”
“Whatever security has to be out there, whatever has to be done, will be done,” Harbaugh said Monday. “This is just not what we’re about, and we’re not going to have it at M&T Bank Stadium.”
Scott Smith, 30, of Mount Vernon, N.Y., and Andrew Nappi, 31, of Eastchester, N.Y., were each charged with first- and seconddegree assault. They did not return messages seeking comment.
Both were released after posting bond: $50,000 for Smith and $25,000 for Nappi.
Nappi told police that the men argued, and Bauer threw a bottle that hit Smith in the head, police said in charging docu- ments. Only plastic and aluminum bottles are sold at the stadium.
Police said Nappi told officers he punched Bauer in the face. Bauer’s wife, Sharon, told police Smith shoved Bauer to the ground and he hit his head. Bauer was knocked unconscious. A witness, Gary Greggs, confirmed the account to officers, police wrote in charging documents.
Nappi and Smith were fans of the visiting Oakland Raiders, police said.
The details of the argument were unclear.
“We’re just left in shock that something this stupid could happen, and so senseless,” Susan Bauer said. “I don’t know who these people are. I don’t know why this happened. I just hope they realize they have altered all of our lives beyond anything that we could have imagined.”