Teen Arrested in WWII Vet's Beating Death

Delbert 'Shorty' Belton, 88, was wounded in Battle of Okinawa
By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff
Suggested by BCS
Posted Aug 23, 2013 4:42 AM CDT
Updated Aug 23, 2013 10:10 AM CDT
Teens Beat WWII Vet to Death
A World War II veteran was reportedly beaten to death by a pair of teens.   (Shutterstock)

An 88-year-old World War II veteran is dead after two teens beat him in a parking lot Wednesday night, police say. One of the two suspects, aged 16, has now been arrested and charged with first-degree robbery and first-degree murder, NBC News reports. The other is still at large. It's unclear why the boys allegedly attacked Delbert "Shorty" Belton in Spokane, Washington: "It does appear random ... there was no indication that he would have known these people prior to the assault," says a police rep.

Police haven't released the suspect's name because of his age. Both suspects are reportedly black males between ages 16 and 19. One is six feet tall and about 150 pounds, while the other, who was dressed all in black, is heavyset. Belton, a US Army veteran, fought in the Pacific; he was wounded by a bullet to the leg at the Battle of Okinawa, KXLY reports. He was reportedly on his way to play pool when he was attacked; he died yesterday morning. (More teenager stories.)

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