Seattle street 'Tuba Man' dies after beating

Edward McMichael, a beloved Seattle street musician known as the "Tuba Man," died after being beaten in a robbery, the King County medical examiner's office said Tuesday.

Two 15-year-olds who were arrested after a group of five teenagers beat the 53-year-old man have been re-arrested for investigation of murder, Seattle police spokesman Mark Jamieson said. Police were searching for the other three youths.

Since the early 1990s, McMichael had been a fixture outside Seattle sporting events where he wore funny hats and played songs on the tuba to match the fate of the SuperSonics, Seahawks or Mariners. He also played outside McCaw Hall on opera nights.

Police said McMichael was assaulted near a bus stop around 12:45 a.m. on Oct. 25 by a group of youths who beat and robbed him An officer who arrived on the scene and saw the attack wrote in his report that McMichael was "on the ground in a fetal position trying to protect himself as the group was kicking and punching him on the ground."

McMichael was treated at Harborview Medical Center for head injuries and was sent home to recover, but was found dead in his room Monday at the downtown Vermont Inn, workers at the inn said.

"We believe his death was directly connected to the assault," Seattle police spokesman Sean Whitcomb told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.