James Richburg, a 63-year-old Maryland man, was sentenced Friday to 70 years in state prison for fatally shooting a fellow MTA bus passenger over what prosecutors described as the most minor of perceived slights—the victim's failure to say "excuse me" after accidentally bumping into him.
Background
The killing unfolded around 1 p.m. on Nov. 30, 2024, as William Womack, 32, attempted to exit an MTA bus near the intersection of Eutaw and Redwood streets in Baltimore, according to the Baltimore City State's Attorney's Office. While exiting, Womack dropped a Gatorade bottle. As he bent to retrieve it, he accidentally bumped into Richburg, sparking what would become a fatal confrontation.
Surveillance footage captured the sequence of events that followed. After Womack stepped off the bus, Richburg shouted, "I won't let you live," prosecutors alleged. Womack then got back on the bus and confronted him, asking what he had said.
"I won't let you live [expletive], you didn't hear me?" Richburg allegedly replied before pulling a handgun from his pants, walking toward Womack and firing a single shot into his chest from just a few feet away.
Both men ran off the bus following the shooting. Womack collapsed nearby and later died at a hospital. The entire killing was captured on surveillance cameras inside the bus, and investigators released a still image of the gunman while searching for the suspect.
The Investigation
Court records alleged the confrontation began because Richburg became enraged that Womack failed to apologize after bumping into him while retrieving his dropped bottle. During trial, prosecutors argued Richburg shot Womack at point-blank range over this perceived slight.
Richburg's attorney claimed the shooting was an act of self-defense, arguing that Womack had committed battery by bumping into his client and continued to "harangue and harass" him after returning to the bus. Prosecutors countered that Womack was unarmed, emphasizing that surveillance footage contradicted the self-defense claim.
Detectives identified Richburg through an unusual investigative path: they traced the bus pass he used to board the MTA bus. Transit records showed the same pass being used on other days, and additional surveillance footage allegedly captured Richburg using it repeatedly. This allowed investigators to identify him before his arrest on Dec. 9, 2024.
The Charges
Richburg was convicted on one count each of second-degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence, and illegal possession of a firearm. On Friday, a judge sentenced him to 70 years in Maryland state prison—effectively a life sentence for the 63-year-old.
"Today's sentence ensures that James Richburg will spend the rest of his life behind bars for the senseless murder of William Womack, whose life was stolen in a brazen act of violence in broad daylight on an MTA bus," Baltimore City State's Attorney Ivan J. Bates said in announcing the sentence. "My office remains steadfast in our commitment to reducing gun violence, protecting our communities, and seeking justice for victims and their loved ones."
Key Takeaways
- William Womack, 32, was shot and killed on Nov. 30, 2024, after accidentally bumping into James Richburg on an MTA bus in Baltimore
- The shooting occurred after Womack failed to say "excuse me" following the collision while retrieving a dropped Gatorade bottle
- Richburg allegedly shouted "I won't let you live" before shooting Womack at close range as he stood just feet away
- Investigators identified Richburg by tracing his bus pass, leading to his arrest on Dec. 9, 2024—nine days after the killing
- Richburg was sentenced to 70 years in state prison following convictions for second-degree murder and firearms charges
What's Next
Richburg will begin serving his 70-year sentence immediately at a Maryland state correctional facility. The case represents one of the more stark examples of gun violence stemming from minor interpersonal disputes, a pattern that Baltimore prosecutors have highlighted in their efforts to combat the city's homicide rate.