Witness Identifies MTA Bus Shooting Defendant by His Glasses

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James Richburg, 61, was allegedly identified by his ex-girlfriend and her daughter by his glasses during the first day of a murder trial before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Kimberly C. McBride on Aug. 6.

Richburg’s ex-girlfriend’s daughter told jurors that she saw a photo circulating on Instagram of the suspect in a Metropolitan Transit Administration (MTA) bus shooting and recognized him as her mother’s then-boyfriend by his glasses’ frames

The glasses were presented to jurors during the hearing, and Richburg’s ex-girlfriend corroborated her daughter’s story. She testified that after her daughter sent her a photo of the suspect, she contacted her own father, who then contacted the authorities.

Richburg’s ex-girlfriend provided a photo to the authorities of the defendant in which he is said to wear identical glasses and provided a positive identification.

Richburg is charged with first-degree murder, firearm use in a felony violent crime and firearm possession with a disqualifying felony conviction in connection to the fatal shooting of 30-year-old William Womack.

According to charging documents, on the afternoon of Nov. 30, 2024, a Baltimore Police dispatcher notified the homicide unit advising of a shooting near the intersection of Eutaw Street and Redwood Street.

Upon further investigation, it was determined that an unknown Black male, later said to be Womack, bumped into another unknown Black male, later identified as Richburg, while on an MTA bus. An argument ensued between the two that ended with Richburg reportedly producing a gun from his waistband and shooting Womack once before fleeing down Eutaw Street.

The chief medical examiner claimed that the gunshot wound to Womack’s chest was “rapidly fatal,” noting that the bullet broke his ribs and subsequently hit his aorta and heart before puncturing his right lung. A toxicology report also revealed multiple substances in Womack’s system, including fentanyl, cocaine and alcohol.

Other witnesses testified to the investigation, including the case’s lead investigator and one of the responding officers.

The lead investigator walked the jurors through video footage that captured the incident, the surrounding area where the suspect was witnessed fleeing the bus and a recorded jail call where Richburg allegedly admitted to shooting Womack. In the call, Richburg reiterated that Womack never said, “Excuse me,” when moving past him on the bus, and admitted to subsequently fighting with Womack.

The responding officer told jurors that upon being called to the scene, he located Womack lying face down on the curb, not breathing. Footage from the officer’s body-worn camera captured multiple individuals surrounding Womack and claiming he was shot. With the help of other emergency response personnel, the officer managed to turn Womack over, cut open his clothing and perform CPR.

He noted that Womack had no weapons on his person at the time of response.

A crime lab technician with the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) testified to recovering a 9mm cartridge casing near the bus’ rear doors. After canvassing the area for possible evidence, she reportedly recovered Womack’s clothes, including a varsity-style jacket, and an unopened bottle of Gatorade. From the jacket, investigators recovered an opened mini bottle of Fireball liqueur and a prescription written for another unknown individual.

The trial is continuing this afternoon, and may close for deliberations.