Officials: COVID-19 patient beat fellow patient to death at Antelope Valley Hospital
KABC
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LANCASTER, Calif. A COVID-19 patient allegedly beat a fellow patient to death inside Antelope Valley Hospital, officials say.
The gruesome murder happened the morning of Dec. 17. Investigators say a man in the COVID-19 unit beat his roommate, a man in his 80s, severely with an oxygen tank.
The victim died the day after the attack.
The two were strangers to each other. A motive for the attack is unclear.
The suspect was arrested and has been charged with murder, with an enhancement based on the victim s age. His name has not been released.
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.