WWII vet Delbert Belton, 88, beaten to death by teens in Spokane, Washington

[Bacchus4.0]

Source: CNN

An 88-year-old World War II veteran was brutally beaten and left for dead by two teens outside a lounge in Spokane, Washington, where he loved to go play pool.

The motive? Police don't have one. The teens appeared to have picked him at random, authorities say.

Delbert Belton, a retired aluminum company worker, served in the Pacific. There, friends say, he took a bullet in the leg during the Battle of Okinawa.

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Police found him in the parking lot, with serious head injuries. He died Thursday.



Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/23/us/world-war-vet-beating-death/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

1. May father and uncle grew up in Spokane, and my uncle was a WWII vet.

For all I know they could have known this poor guy. That's not any way you treat a vet.

[dipsydoodle]

2. Both sickening and sad.

.

[Berlin Expat]

3. Mr. Belton

was likely targeted because the suspects figured, "Oh look.....old guy. Easy pickings."

The story doesn't say whether Mr. Belton was robbed or not, though in this case, it could've just been a random beat-down by a couple of total dumbasses.

Revolting. RIP, Mr. Belton.

[RadiationTherapy]

4. Crazy.

[pitbullgirl1965]

46. Great movie!

That and the Shining

[tom_kelly]

5. Teenagers don't keep their mouths shut. They'll be caught. n/t

[slor]

8. All decent people will...

"frown" on this senseless crime, even those of us that are Africa American.

[Supersedeas]

12. how big of you to "frown" upon the murder of a WWII Vet

to say nothing of the largesse of speaking for all of us who are African Americans.

Surely, you miss the irony in your own comment.

[slor]

14. Surely you missed the quotation marks...

around the word frown. I was responding to someone who threw Jesse Jackson's name into this discussion unnecessarily.

[Supersedeas]

18. Well, the story of this Vet's death deserves more merit than just a frown

Whether Jesse Jackson is mentioned or not.

[Ash_F]

32. Way to badger an innocent bystander.

The hidden poster's revealing comment explains some of their other posting. Lets us leave it at that.

It's against the rules to call people out on DU.

[Supersedeas]

38. or

pot meet kettle

[wolfie001]

11. Adding Jesse Jackson's name .......

.......to this horrific crime is what's known as a "dog whistle". That's what they do at Redstate, Drudge Report, News Corpse, Faux News. Boo and double boo to that behavior.

[RZM]

40. It's because Jackson just commented on the Lane killing

He sent out a tweet stating that the crime was 'frowned upon.'

It probably wasnt the best language to use. He would have been better off not sayinng anything. Not a huge deal or anything, but that's the context for the hidden post.

[aggiesal]

7. First Oklahoma, killing an aussie . . .

now Washington.,
Teens bored again?

I think this is a symptom of 30 years of Reaganomics,
no jobs, no hope, no social safety net.
Adults now working in jobs, to support families, designed
for higb school teens, may be one reason that more teens
appear bored, and jobless numbers higher in teens.

[Supersedeas]

13. Reagan's fault

and do you really think that the sort of teens who would beat an elderly man to death in a parking lot would be interested in jobs that might be available for ordinary teens...is the moral of this story that we all have an obligation to entertain, to constantly monitor and to employ teens with awesome jobs that catch their attention of otherwise murderous teens or risk having innocent people shot in the back and our elderly war hero beaten to death in parking lots.

Some moral.

[marshall]

21. What about Hoover?

Eighty years of living in Hooverville is a long time.

[FrodosPet]

57. If the root of crime is poverty

Why are there so many rich criminals? And why isn't every poor person a violent thief?

Perhaps the problem (and solution) to crime and violence is in the head and heart instead of the wallet?

[aggiesal]

25. You make some very good points . . .

but I still believe that fewer jobs available to teens
because those jobs are now going to those providing
for families is not helping the situation.

And because those jobs are not available, it is leading
to more teens being bored, and yes leading to low morals.

I don't believe we have an obligation to provide a job to
entertain, most jobs don't entertain. But, a job will keep
teens from being bored as much, and gives them some
sense of responsibility.

I don't believe we're seeing that now.

Finally, yes it is Reagan's fault. It all started with him!

[Supersedeas]

45. true, but there's a cost benefit threshold

the jobs available to teens would only be attractive to a point and again, for those teens who you'd be trying to reach, those jobs would lure them away from more convenient and maybe less moral ways of making money--if you look at the data, what you will find is that you have to reach pre-teens to lure them away from these avenues--by the time the youngsters are old enough to apply for and obtain a job, they have gone too far down that road to turn back.

but, i do see what you mean by a sort of vicious cycle, though you would have a more difficult time pinning all of these on Reagan.

[Mz Pip]

50. Plenty of unemployed teens don't kill people.

Jobs aren't a necessary requirement to keep someone from being bored. How about studying, doing some summer reading or volunteer work?

There is no excuse for this. None, nada, zip, zilch.

[warrant46]

55. Its because these Monsters have No Morality

They were never taught anything about being a decent human being and following along with the commandments of any religion such as you shall not kill, steal, covet, etc.

Having a job or not having a job--- has nothing to do with cold blooded murder of a defenseless 88 year old. Although some will say the old guy should have had a gun and killed his attackers

[Mike Daniels]

17. Sometimes a psychopath/sociopath is just that

Economic or social factors don't usually play a role in this type of mindless beatdown.

Some people are just fucking evil and that's that.

[aggiesal]

27. Agreed n/t

[onehandle]

9. Producing multiple orgasms for Fox News producers. nt

[Sunlei]

10. parking lot robbery? they knocked the elder down. look at the pics, shirts have the same logo?

one youth has red shoes, look pretty distinctive. security cameras don't have a decent enough resolution to give a clear face and shirt logos, frustrating.

[Bully Taw]

15. awful...

some people have no respect or value for life

[hamsterjill]

16. This is so very sad.

The poor gentleman.

I hope they find the persons responsible and throw the book at them. This is the second headline in the news within the last week where teens have just murdered for sport. Good heavens. Someone who could kill another for no reason whatsoever other than entertainment has no redeeming qualities and should spend the rest of their lives in jail.

[Bacchus4.0]

19. Police: Arrest Made In Beating Death Of 88-Year-Old WWII Vet

http://seattle.cbslocal.com/2013/08/23/daughter-in-law-world-war-ii-vet-beaten-to-death-with-big-heavy-flashlights/

SPOKANE, Wash. (CBS Seattle/AP) — Police in Spokane, Wash., say they have arrested one of two teens suspected of fatally beating an 88-year-old veteran of World War II who had survived the Battle of Okinawa.

Authorities say the two young African American men, between 16 and 19 years old, approached Delbert Belton in his car 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 daughter-in-law tells KREM-TV that the suspects beat him with flashlights.

[SayitAintSo]

20. Gang violence most likely... initiation...

Getting so out of hand...like to see Obama address that...

[Bully Taw]

26. I would also like to see..

the president address this as well. And also the Oklahoma shooting of the Australian college student. I hear a lot of people at work talk about the racial aspects of these cases, and they compare them to the outcry from the White House over the Trayvon Martin murder. The lack of response gives fuel to their fire that POTUS does not see everyone equally. Not good.

[Ash_F]

28. I'm sure the perps won't be charged...

Finally get charged after massive public pressure. Then get off scot free, despite substantial evidence, due too an all-Black jury.

This isn't really comparable to the Martin case at this time, nor will it be at any point in the future. The authorities are not going to just let this go. They will get caught and spend the rest of their natural lives in prison.

[Bully Taw]

30. yes...i agree...

but that was not the point. I think it is important for our President to make a statement on these slayings as he did on the Martin murder. don't you?

[Ash_F]

31. I wasn't really on board with Obama's statements on the Martin case in the first place...

so it is hard for me to respond to that.

That case was about the prejudice of the justice system, police, judges and state prosecutors(who were all Republicans btw). Obama did not address that. He kind of said it in a sideways manner, between the lines, but he did not say it directly.

Do I think old White men have a right to be safe as much as young Black boys? Of course. But that doesn't really address anything.

[Bully Taw]

33. but these two cases are about

young people that show no regard for or value of life. Black or white, who cares? The President needs to address the fact that the killers, in both cases (Aussie and WWII vet) were so disaffected that they would kill for no reason at all. With no regard for the consequences.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

56. What could he possibly say other than it was a horrible senseless murder?

Which unfortunately happens way too often in this country.

The Martin case was unusual because it begged discussion on several topics that needed to be discussed, namely racial profiling and lax gun laws authored by gun lobbyists. That's why it was a national case. Not just because the shooter was white and the victim was black.

[nomorenomore08]

34. Well the kind of people who are overly paranoid about "black-on-white crime" certainly DON'T

see everyone equally. They see young black men as subhuman savages who should be shot on sight. If those are the kind of people you have to share a workplace with, then you have my sympathies...

[Bully Taw]

35. Yes...i agree...

but you are also not addressing the point. Should the President make a statement on these slayings the same way he did on the Martin Murder? By the way, the murder without cause or remorse aspect of all of these crimes does not demonstrate any humanity on the part of the murders.

[nomorenomore08]

37. Maybe he should. But if he does, it's important that he do so in a way that doesn't play into

the paranoid, racist "war on white people" narrative that many white conservatives buy into.

[Ash_F]

39. +1

You can pin my response to this one Bully Taw.

[Bully Taw]

41. i actually think that a statement on his part goes a long way...

toward pointing out the real aspects of these cases...disaffected youth. I don't believe in race wars. i think the situations that people chalk up to racism are more often than not really something else entirely.

[nomorenomore08]

42. I think the Zimmerman/Martin case had a racial aspect from the beginning. I mean the crime itself.

This one may or may not prove to be racially motivated. In which case, I would have no problem with hate crime enhancements.

[Bully Taw]

43. i think that is fair enough... n/t

[JI7]

49. the difference is there were people defending Zimmerman plus he wasn't even going to be charged

until there was public pressure.

in this case of these guys nobody is defending them. nobody is saying they should not be charged . nobody is attacking the victim.

[nomorenomore08]

51. Absolutely. And whether this is a hate crime or not, the perps are likely going away for life.

As well they should.

[jakeXT]

22. The second unnatural death for a WWII vet this month

A 95-year-old world War II veteran died after being Tasered and hit with bean bag rounds by police for threatening care home staff - but his family insist he was killed unnecessarily.

Police say that John Wrana, who lived in a Chicago assisting living home, was brandishing his cane, a metal shoehorn and a knife before officers shocked him and hit him with bean bag rounds.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2385926/War-veteran-John-Wrana-95-dies-police-shoot-Taser-bean-bag-rounds.html

[dhill926]

23. no words.......

[skeewee08]

24. This breaks my heart....

Thoughts and prayers to Mr. Belton family and friends.

[The Wizard]

29. Makes a good case for

conscription.

[nomorenomore08]

36. Fucking horrible. This guy was my grandmother's age.

I hope these "kids" get life. No parole, unless maybe they live to be their victim's age.

That said, I hate the fact that this case will be used by some to demonize all African-Americans, when there's really nothing more to it than a couple of hate-filled shitstains.

[Mojo Electro]

44. What an absolute disgrace.

There aren't many people left around who fought in WW2. Imagine the stories this man could tell about his life. Since he was 88, he would have been born around 1925. This guy took a bullet in the leg at Okinawa. To have lived such a long life, had so many experiences, only to have it end by being beaten to death at 88 years old. It's outrageous and tragic. What kind of piece of human garbage could beat to death an 88 year old man? The senseless cruelty behind this is something I can't wrap my head around.

[Fire Walk With Me]

48. :(

[skippy66]

52. Just sad

[Marrah_G]

53. This is infuriating