WASHINGTON – A 69-year-old man who was attacked last month at the Eastern Market Metro station is sharing his account of the altercation following the arrest of a teen.
Nineteen-year-old Elijah J. Smith was arrested Monday night. Police say he spat on the older man and punched him three times, causing him to collapse near an escalator at the station on April 24. The incident was captured on surveillance video.
Albert Langeberg discussed the attack with NBC Washington, and said he was shoved by Smith as they both got off an Orange Line train.
“He came from the seat across from behind me and pushed me out the door and said, ‘Get out of the way, old man,’ and that’s when I told him that he was a disgrace to the human race,” Langeberg told NBC Washington. “He said, ‘Do you want to take this outside?’ I said, ‘Sure.'”
Langeberg said he had wanted to get a station manager, but on the escalator, Smith spit in his face before punching him to the ground.
Langeberg was taken to a hospital for treatment of his injuries after the attack.
Police say Smith could face an enhanced sentence, if convicted, because of Langeberg’s age.
Watch NBC Washington’s report below.
