Man Sentenced for Attack on Pro-Life Activists in Baltimore

A 28-year-old man, Patrick Bryce, was sentenced to one year of home detention and three years of probation this week. This comes after he was convicted of second-degree assault and reckless endangerment related to an incident outside a planned parent-child clinic in Baltimore back in May 2023.

Judge Yvette M. Bryant denied a proposed 10-year sentence for Bryce. After the sentencing, one of the victims, 73-year-old Mark Crosby, expressed his frustration, reportedly shouting, “What about my rights and happiness?” as he left the courtroom.

On May 26, Bryce had approached the clinic intending to discuss the idea of sin. However, things escalated quickly after an elderly victim, 84-year-old Richard Schaefer, made what was perceived as a racial comment. Surveillance footage showed Bryce pushing Schaefer into a flower pot before attacking Crosby, who tried to intervene.

“I just took one day,” Bryce reportedly said in court, where he also apologized to both victims.

As part of his sentence, Bryce is required to complete anger management classes, undergo drug and alcohol screenings, and continue receiving treatment. Crosby sustained permanent damage to his right eye from the attack.

Crosby emphasized that the incident was not merely a disagreement between opposing views on abortion but a “vicious, targeted attack on two elderly individuals praying for mothers and presenting alternatives to abortion.” Another statement highlighted the serious injuries inflicted, including one victim losing consciousness and the other suffering from facial fractures and enduring eye troubles.

Social media posts during the incident depicted Crosby with blood on his face while wearing a “Pro Life” shirt, showcasing the severity of the attack. Jay Walton, president of the Baltimore County Chapter of Rights, shared at the time how Crosby had benevolently prayed outside the clinic for years, reaching out to women facing difficult decisions.

In court, Crosby’s lawyer condemned the actions as a glaring disregard for the law and human dignity, underscoring the intensity of the violence involved. Witnesses corroborated accounts of the assault, stating that the conversation had grown aggressive, marking a stark shift from a peaceful exchange of ideas to a physical confrontation.

Overall, the incident has drawn significant attention, highlighting not only the safety concerns faced by activists but also the real-world impacts of ideological clashes.