A Florida man with autism, who dresses as a superhero and waves at passersby from a street corner, was attacked by someone who said he wanted to fight Superman, deputies said.
The victim, Rae Pitt, 19, is deaf and autistic. He earned the moniker “Minneola Superhero” by donning a Superman suit daily, Lake County Deputies said.
Tyler McCorvey, 26, was arrested moments after he attacked Pitt, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office said, according to NBC affiliate WESH 2.
McCorvey told officers he had gone to the area to challenge Superman to a fight. He denied hurting the victim.
The victim told investigators he was punched in the chest and his head smashed against a vehicle, WESH reported.
Ray told authorities a witness intervened and stopped the beating.
Eyewitness Terra Brady said McCorvey approached Pitt and pretended to be deaf, ABC-affiliate WFTV reported. He also pretended to rip off Pitts’ cape.
McCorvey was arrested while running down the street with a garbage can on his head, Brady told WFTV.
He was charged with two counts of battery and aggravated abuse of a disabled adult.
The “Minneola superhero” returned to his perch Friday to wave and smile at motorists and pedestrians.
Residents report that Pitt is friendly and doesn’t bother community members, according to WFTV.
“He keeps to himself, he waves and smiles,” Ashley Payne said.
