California COVID-19 Patient Allegedly Kills Praying Hospital Roommate With Oxygen Tank
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Facing space and staffing shortages, hospitals in California have been placed in a situation that is becoming increasingly dire. In fact, the Golden State on Wednesday became the first US state to reach the grim milestone of 2 million COVID-19 cases since the onset of the pandemic.
Officials with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department recently announced that an 82-year-old man being treated for the novel coronavirus was fatally beaten by a fellow COVID-19 patient last week.
In a Wednesday-released advisory, the department identified the suspect as 37-year-old Jesse Martinez, and said that the attack took place on December 17 at approximately 9:45 a.m. local time.
California man accused of murdering fellow Covid patient with oxygen tank
Jesse Martinez became aggravated when the elderly man sharing his hospital room started praying, according to detectives
The murder occurred in a hospital room in southern California
Credit: Mario Tama /Getty
A Californian man accused of using an oxygen tank to bludgeon a fellow Covid patient to death in his hospital bed last week has been charged with murder, a hate crime and elder abuse.
Jesse Martinez, 37, became aggravated when the 82-year-old man sharing his hospital room started praying, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff s Department.
Detectives said Mr Martinez then grabbed an oxygen tank and used it to beat the elderly patient.
Los Angeles County Sheriff s Dept.: COVID-19 patient kills fellow virus patient in Antelope Valley hospital
and last updated 2020-12-23 13:40:07-05
LANCASTER, Calif. (CNS) - A man was in custody Wednesday following his arrest for allegedly killing a fellow patient at Antelope Valley Hospital in Lancaster, where both men were being treated for COVID-19, authorities said.
Jesse Martinez, 37, was booked on suspicion of murder and his bail was set at $1 million, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff s Department.
Martinez has been charged with murder, a hate crime enhancement, and elder abuse, according to the sheriff s department, which reported that he is scheduled to appear in Antelope Valley Court on Monday.
LANCASTER, Calif. (KABC) A COVID-19 patient accused of beating a fellow patient to death inside Antelope Valley Hospital has been charged with murder, authorities said Wednesday.
The gruesome murder happened the morning of Dec. 17. Investigators say 37-year-old Jesse Martinez beat his 82-year-old roommate at the Lancaster facility, where both men were being treated for COVID-19. The suspect became upset when the victim started to pray. He then struck the victim with an oxygen tank, a sheriff s department statement said.
The victim, who did not personally know the suspect, died the day after the attack, officials added.
Martinez is facing the murder charge with a hate crime enhancement and elder abuse. His bail was set at $1 million and he is scheduled to appear in Antelope Valley Court on Monday.