QUEENS — A husband fatally punched a 64-year-old man for bumping his wife on a bus in Queens, police said.
Detectives are hunting the couple after a parent at the elementary school their child goes to recognized them on security footage, the NYPD said.
Mathew Smith, 42, punched Patrick Gorman, 64, on the corner of Main Street and Queens Boulevard in Briarwood on June 26, authorities said.
Smith's wife, Elena Makarova, 39, is seen in the video watching the attack before calmly walking away with Smith, the NYPD said.
The surveillance video was released by police earlier this week.
The footage showed the victim, who lived in an apartment building on that corner, struggling to get up.
(Credit: NYPD)
Gorman, who suffered head trauma, was rushed to Jamaica Hospital and died hours later, according to the NYPD.
Police released the footage after the city medical examiner's office deemed Gorman's death a homicide on Oct. 29, officials said.
Prior to the incident, the couple was on the bus with Gorman when he bumped into Makarova, authorities said.
She then told Smith that the victim disrespected her which prompted her husband to punch Gorman after they got off the bus, police said.
(Credit: NYPD/Leo Kearns Funeral Homes)
Authorities also said that Smith has one prior arrest. In 2006, he was busted for criminal possession of a controlled substance in Bethlehem, New York.
It was not immediately clear whether Makarova had any criminal history.
According to his obituary, Gorman was a dedicated baseball fan. His neighbors remembered him as friendly and pleasant.
Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at (800) 577-TIPS.
