An elderly man who was being treated for COVID-19 was beaten to death by a fellow patient at a hospital in Southern California, officials say. The suspect was arrested and charged with murder.
The victim, an 82-year-old man, was being treated in a double room at Lancel’s Antelope Valley Hospital when the incident occurred. Both he and his roommate, the 37-year-old suspect, were receiving treatment for COVID-19.
“The suspect was upset when the victim started praying. He then hit the victim with an oxygen tank, “the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said Wednesday. “The victim and the suspect did not know each other.”
Police said the suspect, Jesse Martinez, was arrested and charged with murder, enhanced hate crimes and elder abuse. His guarantee was set at $ 1 million. He is scheduled to appear in court on December 28.
Statement from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department:
Coronavirus patient at California hospital beaten to death with oxygen tank, fellow patient arrested pic.twitter.com/dpYq9CqS34
– BNO Newsroom (@BNODesk) December 23, 2020