Teen Attacks Man, 91, at Nursing Home
Posted by
Christina ColeFebruary 20, 2007 10:03 PMPolice are trying to piece together a strange case that came to light, on Sunday, when an 18-year-old Costa Mesa man walked into a nursing home and allegedly tried to smother a patient. He is now being held on suspicion of attempted murder and elder abuse.
The victim, a 91-year-old resident, was shaken but unharmed. The incident occurred at 11:15, Sunday, when the man entered the Mesa Verde Convalescent Hospital using an after-hour door used by paramedics and visitors, police said.
He walked into the room where the man was sleeping and tried to smother him with a pillow. The man woke up and fought back, yelling as he forced the pillow away from his face.
Alarmed by the shouting, hospital workers rushed to the room where they found the Man standing next to the bed. They took him out into the hall and had him wait while they called the police. He didn't resist or try to escape, he sat calmly and waited.
Officials are uncertain as to why this incident took place and trying to piece together what made him want to come and harm the elderly nursing home resident. He has no prior blemishes on his record aside from bicycle infractions.
"There's no relationship between the kid we have in custody and the 91-year-old victim," police said. "This is just a bizarre, weird thing. It just seems to be completely random."
Detectives are waiting for blood results to see if he was intoxicated. The 18-year-old was being held on $1 million bail and was to be arraigned Wednesday.