On the list of crimes against humanity, assaulting a disabled person for no reason has got to be near the top of the list. Not only is assault always reprehensible, but assaulting someone unable to defend themselves is the move of a coward and a sociopath.

Until last year, the most memorable thing about Barry Baker Jr. was the time he sucker-punched a man with cerebral palsy outside of a 7-Eleven in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Recently, however, Baker made the news for something else–dying in a motorcycle crash while running from the police.

The Assault

The world was first introduced to Barry Baker Jr. on May 10th, 2017. Video surveillance footage from outside a 7-Eleven shows Baker hanging out with friends outside the store when a 22-year-old man with cerebral palsy parks out front. While the man is inside the store, Baker begins mocking the way he walks, which he continues to do to the victim’s face when he exits the store and walks to his car. Then, for no discernable reason, Baker sucker-punches him in the face.

Although he quickly ran away, the entire incident was caught on surveillance footage. The victim called the police, which led Baker to be charged with simple assault and other related offenses.

“The defendant’s actions in this case are appalling,” said West Chester Police Chief Scott Bohn. “You wonder what would make an individual treat somebody like that.”

The Trial

Baker was released on $25,000 bail, but footage of the incident had leaked online, causing his image to be plastered all over the internet. He received a slew of angry callers and threats, which led him to skip out on his bail. Police put out a warrant for his arrest and he was quickly tracked to a hotel in Uwchlan Township on June 5th, 2017.

His fiancée Denise Schmidt was also arrested later that month for helping him evade capture. Coincidentally (or perhaps not so coincidentally), Baker’s father, Barry Baker Sr., was arrested as well as part of a countywide drug bust operation, where it was revealed that he was selling morphine.

“So while his son was beating up a man with a disability, Barry Baker Sr. was selling us morphine,” said Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan. “It’s a heck of a family.”

During the trial, Baker cried for mercy, but the judge was unmoved. “You are a bully. You are a predator,” said Judge William P Mahon. “You are a coward. In 18 years on the bench, I have never had such tangible evidence of someone’s moral compass being so askew.”

The Crash

In November 2017, Baker was sent to state prison to serve a three-to-six-year sentence. However, upon his release, it seems clear Baker did little to stay out of trouble. On April 20th, 2023, Pennsylvania State Police were chasing Baker on a motorcycle in Honey Brook Township, Chester County. During the chase, Baker lost control of the bike and crashed at the corner of Chestnut Tree Road and Horseshoe Pike. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Although police haven’t revealed why they were chasing him, it’s clear that Baker had a long and sordid criminal history that finally caught up with him. While shocking, the manner of Baker’s death is sadly not surprising considering the many crimes he committed over a few short years. It’s a tragic but fitting ending to a story of malice and chaos.