BALTIMORE, MD — A Baltimore man has been sentenced to 70 years in prison for the fatal shooting of another passenger on an MTA bus, following a dispute that escalated into violence.
James Richburg, 63, was convicted of second-degree murder, along with charges of using a firearm in the commission of a violent crime and illegal possession of a firearm, in connection with the death of 32-year-old William Womack.
The incident took place on November 30, 2024, around 1 p.m. at the intersection of Eutaw and Redwood streets, as the bus made a stop. According to prosecutors, Womack dropped a Gatorade bottle near Richburg while exiting the bus, which sparked an argument between the two men.
After Womack left the bus, Richburg allegedly threatened him, stating, "I won't let you live." This prompted Womack to reboard the bus to confront Richburg. Prosecutors reported that Richburg then repeated his threat, drew a handgun from his waistband, and shot Womack in the chest at close range.
Both men fled the scene after the shooting. Womack was transported to a local hospital but succumbed to his injuries shortly after arrival.
Authorities utilized surveillance footage from the bus and records associated with Richburg's transit pass to identify him as the shooter. Investigators also reviewed MTA video from prior days, confirming that the same transit pass had been used by a man fitting Richburg's description.
Baltimore City State's Attorney Ivan J. Bates remarked that the lengthy sentence guarantees Richburg will spend the remainder of his life in prison for what he referred to as a senseless act of violence aboard a public bus.
Reported by HarborBeat based on Patch (source).
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