SPOKANE, Wash. – Police in Spokane, Wash., have arrested one of two teenagers suspected of fatally beating an 88-year-old veteran of World War II who survived the battle for Okinawa.

Police contend that two 16-year-old boys approached Delbert Belton in his car at random Wednesday night outside an Eagles Lodge as he was waiting for a friend.

Belton was found by police with serious head injuries and died in the hospital Thursday.

Belton’s death has struck a chord nationally and sparked outrage on social media.

“He fought for this country,” Belton’s sister, Alberta Tosh, said Friday. “Then he comes home and a couple of creeps kill him in the worst way.”

Police Chief Frank Straub said there was no information that the attack was motivated by anything other than robbery. Police were offering no details about the crime itself, including what was taken, if anything.

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“I don’t really care what their motive was,” Straub added. “We are not going to tolerate this.”

Police say the arrested teenager was being held on charges of robbery and first-degree murder.

Straub identified the suspect still at large as 16-year-old Kenan D. Adams-Kinard.

Even though he is a juvenile, his name and photo were released because he remains a danger to the community, Straub said.


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