NORFOLK, Va. — New details surrounding an assault on board a Carnival Magic cruise that was forced to dock in Norfolk in late October have been released.
Federal assault charges have been filed against the assailant, identified as Michael Truman. He is accused of assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury.
Truman allegedly attacked another man in the ship's theater after the victim asked him multiple times to quiet down, according to a newly obtained affidavit.
The victim was going to look for a crew member to remove Truman when investigators say Truman struck him in the face with a bar glass. Truman climbed on top of the victim and continued striking him, leaving facial lacerations that required 19 stitches, the affidavit reads.
Truman claimed the victim "swung at him" and he was acting in self-defense.
At the time of the assault, Carnival Cruise Lines told 13News Now that the assailant was confined to his room for the remainder of the cruise and was permanently banned from sailing on any Carnival cruise in the future.
"Carnival security and medical officials fully cooperated with law enforcement should the guest decide to press charges. We have zero tolerance for this kind of behavior," a spokesperson for Carnival said in a statement.
The FBI and local law enforcement responded to the assault. An FBI spokesperson at the time confirmed the Norfolk bureau was handling the investigation, saying the agency "typically has jurisdiction to investigate incidents on the high seas."