Pedestrian Who Died After Asheville Crosswalk Assault Identified

Pedestrian Who Died After Asheville Crosswalk Assault Identified

Asheville police have identified the pedestrian who died after being assaulted on a crosswalk last month. A spokesperson for the Asheville Police Department said Gregory William Martin, 73, suffered severe head trauma when he was shoved to the ground on Feb. 28, 2024.

Surveillance video of the incident showed a pedestrian pass in front of a vehicle stopped in a crosswalk. The pedestrian tapped the hood and kept walking. Later, a man is seen getting out of the passenger side of a vehicle and shoving the pedestrian to the ground before re-entering the vehicle and driving away. Martin, the pedestrian, was taken to the hospital with severe head trauma.

Police say Tyler Coenraads was charged with assault inflicting serious bodily injury after an investigation into the incident. He turned himself in on March 8, was booked under a $5,000 secured bond issued by the magistrate and released.

A police spokesperson said Tuesday that the investigation into the incident is ongoing, and authorities continue to work with the state medical examiner’s office.