A coronavirus patient is accused of beating his 82-year-old roommate in the hospital to death with an oxygen tank in Lancaster, California, last week because he was upset about his Catholic prayers, according to authorities.
The victim shared a room for two at Antelope Valley Hospital with the suspect, Jesse Martinez, 37. Both were in treatment for COVID-19, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
The two did not know each other, but the old victim’s prayer angered Martinez on the morning of December 17, officials said. The suspect is accused of grabbing an oxygen tank and punching the victim.
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The sheriff’s department said the investigation was underway and that it could not comment further.
Hospital officials detained Martinez at the scene until police arrived, the Los Angeles Times reported.
The 82-year-old man was pronounced dead at 10:20 am the next day. The authorities did not immediately disclose his name.
Martinez faces murder charges, with increased hate crimes and abuse of the elderly, according to investigators.
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His bail was set at $ 1 million, and he is due to appear in Antelope Valley Court on Monday.
Anyone with information about the incident was encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department of Homicide or Crime.
California announced more than 39,000 new cases of Coronavirus on Wednesday and 361 deaths, bringing the total across the state to more than 1.9 million cases and 23,000 deaths.