WWII Vet Beaten to Death by Two Teens UPDATE: Teen Arrested and Charged

By: Rachel Pulaski

WWII veteran Delbert Benton died Thursday morning after being beaten to death by two black teens in Spokane while waiting outside  an Eagles Lodge.  The two suspects used “big heavy flashlights” to beat Benton.  The suspects are still at large and described as two black teens between the ages of 16 and 19.  One suspect is described as heavy set wearing black clothing and the other was wearing a black silk do-rag.

KXLY reported:

WWII veteran Delbert Belton survived being wounded in action during the Battle of Okinawa only to be beaten and left for dead by two teens at the Eagles Lodge in Spokane on Wednesday evening.

Belton, 88, succumbed to his injuries Thursday morning at Sacred Heart Medical Center.

Witnesses say Belton was in the parking lot of the Eagles Lodge at 6410 N. Lidgerwood, adjacent to the Eagles Ice-A-Rena, around 8 p.m. Wednesday when the two male suspects attacked him as he was about to head inside to play pool.

Police responded with K-9s to track the suspects’ scent but were not able to locate them.

“It does appear random. He was in the parking lot, 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,” Spokane Police Major Crimes Detective Lieutenant Mark Griffiths said.

Belton died from his injuries Thursday morning at Sacred Heart Medical Center.

If anyone has any information please call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS.

UPDATE: An arrest has been made.  A teen has been charged with first-degree robbery and first-degree murder.  Hat Tip Aggie95

 

Thanks for sharing!