Teen suspect arrested in fatal beating of WWII vet, 88

Doug Stanglin | USA TODAY

Spokane police said Friday they have arrested one of two teenagers wanted as suspects in the beating death of an 88-year-old World War II vet who was wounded at Okinawa.

Delbert Belton, known as "Shorty," died Thursday from head injuries suffered in the attack Wednesday night outside the Eagles Lodge.

KHQ-TV reports that the 16-year-old is being held in juvenile detention but will be charged as an adult and faces first degree murder and first degree robbery charges.

Police had released the photos of two teenagers seen in area surveillance footage.

Police say they received a call about an assault and found the victim sitting in his car. The medical examiner said Belton suffered "blunt facial and head injuries" and ruled his death a homicide, The Spokesman-Reviewreports.

KXLY-TV quotes witnesses as saying two black male suspects attacked Belton as he was about to head inside the lodge to play pool. KHQ-TV reports that police believe the assault was a random attack.



Police, who have examined surveillance footage, say they are looking for two possible suspects between the ages of 16 and 19.

A friend, Ted Denison, told The Spokesman-Review that Belton was shot in the leg during the fighting in Okinawa in 1945.

"He was a tough old bird, I'll tell you that," he told the newspaper.

The newspaper says Belton was waiting outside the lodge for a friend because he did not want her to walk in alone.