Veteran Reporter for 'The Sun' Hospitalized After Robbery Attempt

By: Joe Strupp A longtime reporter for The Sun of Baltimore reportedly was attacked Saturday night near Baltimore's City Hall during an apparent robbery attempt, the paper reported today. Carl Schoettler, 72, remained in critical condition at Maryland Shock Trauma Center yesterday, police and a hospital spokeswoman told the Sun.

Schoettler is a reporter on the newspaper's features staff, and a former longtime news reporter for The Evening Sun. The staff writer had reportedly been driving his car, which collided with another vehicle, prior to the incident, police told the paper.

"After the two drivers exchanged information, Mr. Schoettler was about to enter his car when a young male who was standing at a nearby bus stop suddenly attacked Mr. Schoettler from behind and knocked him to the pavement," the Sun quoted an investigator as saying.

Police said witnesses saw the attacker strike Schoettler repeatedly and kick him several times in the head, the paper said. Several people at the scene phoned 911, and the attacker fled - apparently without any of the victim's money or personal belongings, police told the Sun.