World War II veteran Delbert "Shorty" Belton was beaten to death outside a Spokane, Washington lounge Wednesday night. Not wanting the friend he was waiting for to walk in alone, Belton was waiting outside the Eagles Lodge when two teens attacked him. Police do not have a motive for the attack and believe the teens chose Belton at random. According to the Spokane medical examiner, via CNN Belton died of blunt force trauma to his head and face. The medical examiner ruled Belton's death a homicide. Delbert Belton is survived by one son, William and a daughter-in-law.
This is the second random attack by teens that cost a life this week. Three teenaged boys killed Australian native Christopher Lane in Oklahoma this week. Police believe the motive in that case was boredom. The news of Lane's death sent shockwaves around the world. An Australian politician even called for tourists to boycott travel to the United States. It is unclear if the teens in the Belton case stalked the senior citizen before the attack or decided to kill the man after spotting him on the street.
"There was no indication that he would have known these people prior to the assault," said Detective Mark Griffiths. Reports are now saying one of the teens responsible for the death of Delbert Belton has been arrested. Officers have 16-year-old Demetrius Glenn in custody. Glenn will be charged with first-degree murder and first-degree robbery. The second assailant is still on the loose. Police are still looking for an African American male between the ages of 16 and 19. Police hope video footage of the two teens will lead the arrest of the second boy.
"Anybody that didn't get to know him missed out on a wonderful angle in their life," said a friend of Belton to the Spokesman-Review. During WWII "Shorty" Belton was fighting for his country in the pacific. In 1945 he was wounded in battle at Okinawa. "He was a tough old bird, I'll tell you that," Belton's best friend Ted Denison told the Spokesman-Review.
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