Delbert Belton Murder: WWII veteran in Wash. dies after attack; police seek two male suspects
(CBS) SPOKANE, Wash. - An 88-year-old veteran of World War II was beaten to death outside the Eagles Lodge in Spokane, police say, and authorities are seeking two young males in the incident.
Friends identified the victim as Delbert Belton, and say he was sitting outside the lodge when he was attacked. No motive was offered.Police say they received a call about an assault at 8:15 p.m. Wednesday and responded to find the victim sitting in his car with serious head injuries. The victim was taken to a hospital, and died Thursday morning.
Authorities are looking for two African American males of average build between the ages of 16 and 19 caught on video.
According to CBS affiliate KREM, the victim's daughter-in-law said Belton was hit with "big heavy flashlights" and doctors told her he was bleeding from all parts of his face.
The victim had reportedly gone to the arena to play pool with a friend when he was attacked.
Belton was wounded during the Battle for Okinawa during World War II, according to the station.
"He was an Army veteran," Glenn Longsdorff, Belton's roommate of four years, told the station. "In fact, he was shot when he was 18 years old on the beaches of Okinawa. He'll do anything in the world for anybody."