Delbert Belton, a World War II veteran, was beaten to death by two teenagers in Spokane, Washington, it was reported.
KXLY-TV reported that Belton, 89, died Thursday morning in Sacred Heart Medical Center after he was beaten in the Eagles Lodge parking lot near the Eagles Ice-A-Rena.
On Friday, police arrested a teenage suspect in connection with the crime.
The teens, who have not been caught, have been described as African-American between the ages of 16 and 19. They were wearing black clothing and one of them was wearing a “do-rag,” police said.
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The two attacked Belton on Wednesday night, but police have not given motive for the crime.
Police say they received a call about an assault at 8:15 p.m. and later found the victim sitting in his car with serious head injuries, reported The Associated Press.
Belton’s friends said that he survived the Battle of Okinawa during World War II and was wounded. He later worked at an aluminum plant for 30 years.
Friends and family of Belton said that he was “full of life” and enjoyed working on cars and helping others, reported KHQ-TV.
A memorial was set up at the crime scene for Belton.
“Del will be missed. I lived next to him for the past 17 years. He was a good guy. This is totally senseless,” wrote a commenter, Matt Buster, on the KXLY article.
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