Aa
Another senseless murder
I don't know if this was racially motivated or not but it really makes me sick. This kind of thing is unfathomable to me. I really can't comprehend that people have absolutely no value for human life - I just don't get it at all.
WWII vet Delbert Belton, 88, beaten to death by teens in Spokane, Washington
By Ed Payne and Amanda Watts, CNN
updated 9:07 AM EDT, Fri August 23, 2013
(CNN) -- An 88-year-old World War II veteran was brutally beaten and left for dead by two teens outside a lounge in Spokane, Washington, where he loved to go play pool.
The motive? Police don't have one. The teens appeared to have picked him at random, authorities say.
Delbert Belton, a retired aluminum company worker, served in the Pacific. There, friends say, he took a bullet in the leg during the Battle of Okinawa.
He survived that attack.
But Wednesday night, Belton -- affectionately called "Shorty" by friends for his height -- headed to the Eagles Lodge where he was a regular.
Police found him in the parking lot, with serious head injuries. He died Thursday.
"It does appear random," Spokane police Lt. Mark Griffiths told reporters. "It appears he was assaulted in the parking lot and there was no indication that he would have known these people prior to the assault."
It's the second time in a week that a seemingly random attack by teenagers has claimed a life.
On August 16, a 23-year-old Australian baseball player attending college in Oklahoma was gunned down in the town of Duncan.
One of three teens police arrested in that shooting said they carried it out because "we were bored and didn't have anything to do."
'All there is is bad news'
The randomness of the two attacks was not lost on Ted Denison, who's been friends with Belton for a long time.
"It's really depressing," Denison told CNN late Thursday night. "Seems that all there is is bad news."
The two men met more than 20 years ago and worked on cars together.
"We were mechanic buddies," the 42-year-old Denison said. "We just kind of kicked right along."
But the friends also hung out together outside the garage.
"We went dancing on Saturday nights," Denison said. "We went out to breakfast together."
Belton stopped by the Eagles Lodge two or three times a week. He played pool, but by his own admission, wasn't too good at it.
"He went up there and played pool, met with some of the guys he used to work with at Kaiser Aluminum," where he was employed more than 30 years, Denison said.
His wife died several years ago. The WW II vet is survived by a son, 65.
Waiting for a friend
Wednesday night, Denison was outside the lodge waiting for a friend because he didn't want her to walk home alone, Lillian Duncan told the Spokesman-Review newspaper.
"He was so awesome," Duncan told the paper. "Anybody that didn't get to know him missed out on a wonderful angel in their life."
Police are looking for two suspects. Witnesses described them as "young African American males of average build," according to a police statement.
Officers used K-9 search dogs to search for the suspects, swept for fingerprints on the chain link fence in the area where they were last seen headed, and scoured through surveillance tapes.
So far, the attackers haven't been found.
"We are actively looking for the suspects in this tragic incident and following up on tips and other leads in order to bring those responsible to justice," said police spokeswoman Monique Cotton.
Outside the lodge Thursday, friends and strangers alike left flowers, flags and messages for Belton.
Belton never had problems outside the lodge before -- no threats, no altercations, Denison said.
"If he had, I would have made sure I was there."
http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/23/us/world-war-vet-beating-death/index.html?hpt=hp_c2
WWII vet Delbert Belton, 88, beaten to death by teens in Spokane, Washington
By Ed Payne and Amanda Watts, CNN
updated 9:07 AM EDT, Fri August 23, 2013
(CNN) -- An 88-year-old World War II veteran was brutally beaten and left for dead by two teens outside a lounge in Spokane, Washington, where he loved to go play pool.
The motive? Police don't have one. The teens appeared to have picked him at random, authorities say.
Delbert Belton, a retired aluminum company worker, served in the Pacific. There, friends say, he took a bullet in the leg during the Battle of Okinawa.
He survived that attack.
But Wednesday night, Belton -- affectionately called "Shorty" by friends for his height -- headed to the Eagles Lodge where he was a regular.
Police found him in the parking lot, with serious head injuries. He died Thursday.
"It does appear random," Spokane police Lt. Mark Griffiths told reporters. "It appears he was assaulted in the parking lot and there was no indication that he would have known these people prior to the assault."
It's the second time in a week that a seemingly random attack by teenagers has claimed a life.
On August 16, a 23-year-old Australian baseball player attending college in Oklahoma was gunned down in the town of Duncan.
One of three teens police arrested in that shooting said they carried it out because "we were bored and didn't have anything to do."
'All there is is bad news'
The randomness of the two attacks was not lost on Ted Denison, who's been friends with Belton for a long time.
"It's really depressing," Denison told CNN late Thursday night. "Seems that all there is is bad news."
The two men met more than 20 years ago and worked on cars together.
"We were mechanic buddies," the 42-year-old Denison said. "We just kind of kicked right along."
But the friends also hung out together outside the garage.
"We went dancing on Saturday nights," Denison said. "We went out to breakfast together."
Belton stopped by the Eagles Lodge two or three times a week. He played pool, but by his own admission, wasn't too good at it.
"He went up there and played pool, met with some of the guys he used to work with at Kaiser Aluminum," where he was employed more than 30 years, Denison said.
His wife died several years ago. The WW II vet is survived by a son, 65.
Waiting for a friend
Wednesday night, Denison was outside the lodge waiting for a friend because he didn't want her to walk home alone, Lillian Duncan told the Spokesman-Review newspaper.
"He was so awesome," Duncan told the paper. "Anybody that didn't get to know him missed out on a wonderful angel in their life."
Police are looking for two suspects. Witnesses described them as "young African American males of average build," according to a police statement.
Officers used K-9 search dogs to search for the suspects, swept for fingerprints on the chain link fence in the area where they were last seen headed, and scoured through surveillance tapes.
So far, the attackers haven't been found.
"We are actively looking for the suspects in this tragic incident and following up on tips and other leads in order to bring those responsible to justice," said police spokeswoman Monique Cotton.
Outside the lodge Thursday, friends and strangers alike left flowers, flags and messages for Belton.
Belton never had problems outside the lodge before -- no threats, no altercations, Denison said.
"If he had, I would have made sure I was there."
http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/23/us/world-war-vet-beating-death/index.html?hpt=hp_c2
As the story unfolds it becomes more bizarre. The boy’s Father claims the gun belonged to the Grandmother but it hasn’t been proven yet. The 87+ year old was raising the child and even slept in the same Bedroom with her. Why wasn’t his parents raising him? The complete investigation has not been released yet.
I am with you! There are millions of kids that are growing up in a household that has guns and even at the age of 8 know damned good and well that you don't point a gun at anything you do not want to destroy.
Second issue is if grandma was the "owner" of the gun... Grandma? Even at your advanced age, you need to be responsible enough to not allow your punk *** grandson easy access to your gun. THAT IS YOUR TOP PRIORITY AS A GUN OWNER... KEEP IT THE HELL OUT OF THE HANDS OF A KID!!!!! There are a number of things that gun owners can do to keep a gun handy, and it all begins with instruction.
I've got to stop right here before I blow an O ring.... Sorry Grandma, but you did not do everything you could to protect yourself. You apparently furnished a gun for yourself to be killed by. As sick as this sounds, thankfully it was her grand kid and the gun never made it into the streets.
Second issue is if grandma was the "owner" of the gun... Grandma? Even at your advanced age, you need to be responsible enough to not allow your punk *** grandson easy access to your gun. THAT IS YOUR TOP PRIORITY AS A GUN OWNER... KEEP IT THE HELL OUT OF THE HANDS OF A KID!!!!! There are a number of things that gun owners can do to keep a gun handy, and it all begins with instruction.
I've got to stop right here before I blow an O ring.... Sorry Grandma, but you did not do everything you could to protect yourself. You apparently furnished a gun for yourself to be killed by. As sick as this sounds, thankfully it was her grand kid and the gun never made it into the streets.
He's only 8 and they suspect he might have shot her on purpose? I have an 8 year old. They really aren't that diabolical. I think some kids around that age really don't get the reality of some things. I mean, they probably should but kids develop the ability to use cognitive reason at different rates. I would venture a guess that the boy could have gotten caught up acting out something he saw on video games and accidentally shot his grandmother. Very very sad.
They are not sure exactly how old she was. They are saying between 87 and 92 so I doubt she was in any condition to be able to retrieve the gun in a crisis situation from a safe place that an 8 year old could not get to. Who knows? The kid may have shot her on purpose but I’ve learned to never listen to “Breaking News”. If they don’t have a story they will make one up. I will guarantee, if it is proven to be an accident, outside of local News. No one will hear anything about it.
Accident? I like the use of the word accident. Perhaps this kid did not mean to shoot grandma, but there would have been far better proof of that if the kid did not pick up a gun and point it in the direction of dear old grandma.
There are a lot of things wrong here and it starts with the fact that this kid could get his hands on a gun.
There are a lot of things wrong here and it starts with the fact that this kid could get his hands on a gun.
Slaughter La. is about 20 Minutes N.E from where I live. The child has not been charged and has been released to his parents. They are saying it may have been an accident. It’s still under investigation.
Adgal, I agree. As always, great insight.
now an 8yr.old who just played a game where you are "rewarded" for killing people has shot an 87yr.old woman in the back of the head----shot her dead!
Just "played"-----play? That is playing---just for fun. Hey. Guess where he did it? In Slaughter, La. (not kidding---slaughter!).......!........
Just "played"-----play? That is playing---just for fun. Hey. Guess where he did it? In Slaughter, La. (not kidding---slaughter!).......!........
I really don't think it is a single issue that is leading to this. However, yes, I do feel that lack of parenting (at any socio economic level) plays a part, lack of supervision and consequences. I also think that there is a huge lack of people looking out for each other in our society. There was a time neighborhoods and towns came together - the whole theory of "it takes a village". That is missing now (at least in my opinion) and people are so much more isolated. When my parents were going through some pretty bad times and yes, they were neglectful in those days, I always had a friends parent or a teacher or someone I could turn to. That doesn't seem to exist in the same way it once did.
There is no excuse for violence of this sort, but we do have to address it head on if we are going to try to prevent it. All of us. No, we shouldn't have to interfer, people should parent their own children, however that is not always the case, and for the good of our society, we have to be able to speak up when necessary. Just my opinion.
There is no excuse for violence of this sort, but we do have to address it head on if we are going to try to prevent it. All of us. No, we shouldn't have to interfer, people should parent their own children, however that is not always the case, and for the good of our society, we have to be able to speak up when necessary. Just my opinion.
is it a reflection on their parents......on the i--me--mine society......on the lack of any proper award and punishment (consistently applied) system......on being poor with no opportunity (that they can see)......?
So they join military or go to jail! we pay any way we go it seems...........and i agree that a harsh stance----with a pathway out of their mess offered----has to be applied------and isn't it seems! wow!.......don
So they join military or go to jail! we pay any way we go it seems...........and i agree that a harsh stance----with a pathway out of their mess offered----has to be applied------and isn't it seems! wow!.......don
It is really awful. And it is even worse when things like 'boredom' are given for the reason.
When those kids were bored last summer . . . they probably played "Call to duty" video games. This summer they kill someone.
I'm sorry but I can't help but think that we need to do a better job with our youth if boredom leads to violence.
Race or not, it's disturbing on many levels to me that the answer that these kids found to entertain themselves was to hurt someone. And in the past year, I've heard more and more of that in the news.
Agree that a harsh stance on it is critical.
When those kids were bored last summer . . . they probably played "Call to duty" video games. This summer they kill someone.
I'm sorry but I can't help but think that we need to do a better job with our youth if boredom leads to violence.
Race or not, it's disturbing on many levels to me that the answer that these kids found to entertain themselves was to hurt someone. And in the past year, I've heard more and more of that in the news.
Agree that a harsh stance on it is critical.
Disgusting! These punks attacked an 88 year old man.... what was the motive? What kind of sissy predator picks on an 88 year old man?
Try em and fry em. There is no deterrent for crime when crap like this is considered status symbol amongst today's punk youth! Their age is not an excuse. I knew it was illegal to kill someone when I was much, much younger.....
I'm sick of this crap. We've got to quit coddling people who do things like this.
Try em and fry em. There is no deterrent for crime when crap like this is considered status symbol amongst today's punk youth! Their age is not an excuse. I knew it was illegal to kill someone when I was much, much younger.....
I'm sick of this crap. We've got to quit coddling people who do things like this.
There are no words. What the heck is going on?
They caught one, a 16 year old and he was charged with robbery and first degree murder, and they are looking for the second one who they know who it is, he is also a 16 year old. The family of the dead man said the teens were wanting money, so the intent was robbery, but the man died from injuries to the head and face with a blunt instrument, hence first degree murder. It appears the teens were black which I am sure will be another issue as well. Far as Im concerned why waste time and money on these types. Just shootem and be done with em. I know I sound mean......
I saw the headlines and didn't have what it took to read the whole article. I can't imagine where the total disregard from human life is coming from. Every time we turn on the news, we're seeing similar things; it's very disheartening and makes me wonder how our society managed to produce such a crop of violent, insociable people.
Did they really catch the guys who did it? I saw a headline that said something about one of them; was just getting ready to go find the article and read it.
Did they really catch the guys who did it? I saw a headline that said something about one of them; was just getting ready to go find the article and read it.
I heard about this and it just makes my stomach churn. Its horrible! I hear they have found the perps? This is so bad I don't even have words to describe how bad it is! There are some sick puppies out there!
You must join this user group in order to participate in this discussion.
You are reading content posted in the Current Events . . . Group
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
