* Sheriff's homicide detectives update suspect's age.
A 46-year-old man was being questioned by authorities tonight in connection with the death of a 74-year-old man who was beaten to death with a baseball bat in the sporting goods section of a Walmart store in Lakewood this afternoon.
A man was taken into custody, said sheriff's homicide Lt. Eddie Hernandez.
Sheriff's deputies were sent to the store at 2770 Carson St. at 4:47
p.m. Tuesday on an assault with a deadly weapon call, Hernandez told City News Service.
Hernandez told KCAL9 witnesses saw that the victim "lying on the floor
unresponsive and had injuries to his head.''
Witness Jennifer Thompson told KCAL9 she was one aisle over when she
heard the beating.
"It was very scary. very, very scary, to hear the noise of someone's
life being taken away is very sad,'' Thompson told KCAL9. "Noises like moans
and groans...you could hear when he hit him. It was awful, so awful. And then I
went around the corner and peaked...and he just walked out like it was
nothing.''
Walmart security detained the suspect until officers arrived, Hernandez
said.
Several witnesses told KCAL9 that they heard the suspect ask the victim
for money and was told no before the attack.
"Witnesses have drawn the conclusion that the suspect is homeless,''
Hernandez said. "We haven't confirmed that.''
According to KCAL9, customers and staff were ushered out of the store
and told not to talk to reporters.
The suspect was detained at the sheriff's Lakewood Station for further
investigation, Hernandez said.
- City News Service
