WASHINGTON — A Baltimore Ravens fan accused of assaulting two Commanders fans after the teams’ game last week has turned himself in to authorities, Baltimore Police said Monday.
Police posted the announcement just after 1:30 p.m. Monday on X, formerly Twitter, along with images showing 24-year-old John Callis in handcuffs. Callis faces one count of first-degree assault and three counts of second-degree assault.
The Oct. 13 matchup between the Ravens and Commanders, dubbed the “Battle of the Beltway,” ended in a 23-30 loss for the Commanders. Afterwards, fans of both teams flooded the sidewalks of the city’s entertainment district where, in the 1000 block of South Charles Street, the assault occurred.
A viral video of the assault posted to social media shows a man in a Ravens jersey approach two men in Commanders jerseys and begin kicking and attacking them unprovoked. The Ravens fan strikes one of the Commanders fans in the face and appears to knock him unconscious before grappling with the second man and eventually throwing him to the ground.
Afterward, the Ravens fan can be heard shouting, “I don’t lose!” before appearing to high-five the unidentified person filming the incident.
According to charging documents, the assault captured on video was actually the second encounter between Callis and the two Commanders fans, as well as a third who was not present for the filmed assault.
Prior to the initial assault, the three victims told police they were walking toward Federal Hill after the game when an unknown man, later identified as Callis, yelled, “Screw the Redskins!” at them. Callis then allegedly grabbed one of the victims and started punching a second who attempted to break them up. Callis is accused of punching the third, previously unknown victim, when he attempted to create distance between Callis and his friends.
All three Commanders fans then left the area. Later, two of them returned to the area of the first assault on South Charles Street. It was there they again encountered Callis and the second assault that was filmed and later posted to social media occurred.
According to an affidavit, one of the victims who was punched in the face multiple times by Callis suffered a severe head injury that was later diagnosed as a concussion.
Last week, police said a warrant had been issued for Callis' arrest.
It was unclear when Callis would make his initial appearance in court. Under Maryland state law, first-degree assault is a felony carrying a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison.
According to Maryland state court records, Callis was previously charged with second-degree assault in November 2021. He pleaded not guilty with an agreed statement of facts and was given a year of probation before judgment — a unique option in Maryland that allows some defendants to avoid a conviction while resolving their cases.