88-Year-Old WWII Veteran Beaten to Death by Two Teens in Parking Lot; Suspect Photos Released

Editor's note: Conflicting reports initially listed Delbert Belton's age as 88 and 89 years old. Spokane police have confirmed he was 88. This story has been updated to reflect the change.

An 88-year-old World War II veteran was savagely beaten by two teenagers in a parking lot in Spokane, Wash., on Wednesday evening, KXLY-TV reports. Delbert Belton died in the hospital Thursday morning from the injuries he sustained in the brutal attack.

(Source: KHQ)

Belton was in the parking lot of the Eagles Lodge at around 8 p.m. on Wednesday when two male suspects assaulted him for no apparent reason.

Police have released surveillance photos of persons of interest in the homicide investigation. "They are described as young African American males of average build," KHQ reports. They are believed to be between 16 to 19 in age and were wearing black clothes, while one suspect was seen wearing a black "do-rag," according to police.

(Source: KHQ)

(Source: KHQ)

KXLT-TV has more details on the victim:

"Shorty," as he was known by his friends at the Eagles Lodge, served in the U.S. Army in the Pacific during WWII and was shot in the leg during the Battle of Okinawa. He went on to work at Kaiser Aluminum at the company's Trentwood plant for more than 30 years.

He loved playing pool, even though he claimed he was no good at it and had been a member of the Eagles Lodge for the last four months. In addition to playing pool he loved working on cars.

Belton's wife passed away several years ago.

Police were using surveillance footage from the scene to piece together what happened. Investigators have not said what they believe the motive was in the beating. However, police say this seems to be a random attack.

–

[related]