Man accused of killing Fells Point artist followed couple before attack, police say

A man charged in the fatal attack on a longtime Fells Point couple followed them from Broadway Market before punching them and taking $150, according to charging documents.

Beloved community artist Claudia Bismark, 76, died Thursday from her injuries. Her husband, Wade Wilson, 60, suffered facial injuries and a concussion, Detective Randolph Hohenstein of the Baltimore Police Department said in charging documents.

The man who investigators said assaulted the couple, Montray McCray, argued with security officers at Beans and Bread, a homeless outreach program, minutes before he spotted the couple on Tuesday morning. McCray saw Wilson paying for their breakfast at Vikki’s Fells Point Deli in Broadway Market and watched them, charging documents said.

When Bismark and Wilson left the market, McCray exited from the back of the restaurant just before 9:30 a.m., investigators said. The 32-year-old approached them from behind in the 1700 block of Fleet Street and punched Wilson, who knocked into his wife, causing them both to fall, court documents showed.

Investigators said that McCray punched Bismark, leaving her unconscious, and then punched Wilson again before going through Wilson’s pockets and taking his wallet. The assailant then took off down the street, court documents said.

Someone returned McCray’s wallet, investigators said, but $150 was missing.

On Thursday morning, the Baltimore Police Department said its officers took McCray into custody. Hours later, Bismark, who was in a coma, succumbed to her injuries. McCray is being held without bond and is scheduled to have a bail review hearing Friday morning.

The attack shook neighbors this week, more than 100 of whom gathered Thursday night near the scene, holding candles and mourning Bismark at a community-organized vigil.

Bismark, an artist who ran an art gallery from the couple’s home, was a beloved supporter of the arts in Baltimore. She served on the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on Art and Culture, and in the 1990s she worked at the The Walters Art Museum.

Liz Bement has lived a block from the couple for the past 11 years. She recalled walking around the neighborhood and seeing a sign promoting an art show at Bismark’s home, with the door wide open.

That marked the first of many times Bement would visit the home for art shows. Her favorite was a talk that photojournalist Jim Burger gave about his photography book.

“She would have the most interesting art, and artists exhibit their work there,” Bement said.

Banner reporters Dylan Segelbaum and Darreonna Davis contributed to this story.

This story will be updated.