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

[Karee 4,191]

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.

He survived that attack.

Delbert Belton survived being wounded in action during the Battle of Okinawa only to be beaten to death by two teens in Spokane, Washington.

But Wednesday night, Belton -- affectionately called "Shorty" by friends for his height -- headed to the Eagles Lodge where he was a regular.

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

"It does appear random," Spokane police Lt. Mark Griffiths told reporters. "It appears he was assaulted in the parking lot and there was no indication that he would have known these people prior to the assault."

It's the second time in a week that a seemingly random attack by teenagers has claimed a life.

On August 16, a 23-year-old Australian baseball player attending college in Oklahoma was gunned down in the town of Duncan.

One of three teens police arrested in that shooting said they carried it out because "we were bored and didn't have anything to do."

'All there is is bad news'

The randomness of the two attacks was not lost on Ted Denison, who's been friends with Belton for a long time.

"It's really depressing," Denison told CNN late Thursday night. "Seems that all there is is bad news."

The two men met more than 20 years ago and worked on cars together.

"We were mechanic buddies," the 42-year-old Denison said. "We just kind of kicked right along."

But the friends also hung out together outside the garage.

"We went dancing on Saturday nights," Denison said. "We went out to breakfast together."

Belton stopped by the Eagles Lodge two or three times a week. He played pool, but by his own admission, wasn't too good at it.

"He went up there and played pool, met with some of the guys he used to work with at Kaiser Aluminum," where he was employed more than 30 years, Denison said.

His wife died several years ago. The WW II vet is survived by a son, 65.

Waiting for a friend

Wednesday night, Denison was outside the lodge waiting for a friend because he didn't want her to walk home alone, Lillian Duncan told the Spokesman-Review newspaper.

"He was so awesome," Duncan told the paper. "Anybody that didn't get to know him missed out on a wonderful angel in their life."

Police are looking for two suspects. Witnesses described them as "young African American males of average build," according to a police statement.

Officers used K-9 search dogs to search for the suspects, swept for fingerprints on the chain link fence in the area where they were last seen headed, and scoured through surveillance tapes.

So far, the attackers haven't been found.

"We are actively looking for the suspects in this tragic incident and following up on tips and other leads in order to bring those responsible to justice," said police spokeswoman Monique Cotton.

Outside the lodge Thursday, friends and strangers alike left flowers, flags and messages for Belton.

Belton never had problems outside the lodge before -- no threats, no altercations, Denison said.

"If he had, I would have made sure I was there."

Source:

http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/23/us/world-war-vet-beating-death/index.html?hpt=hp_c2

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

Douche bags.

[Jacque67 7,328]

I blame it on computer games. So many people have lost touch with reality.

[Penny Lane 8,159]

I was just reading about this. Heartbreaking.

I blame it on computer games. So many people have lost touch with reality.

Much easier to blame it on computer games, I guess, than focusing on what's actually wrong. Lack of parenting, lack of education, lack of community, lack of activities to do.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

I blame it on lack of parenting and morals. I played games as a kid and still do. Never did I even fantasize about killing another human being IRL.

[Penny Lane 8,159]

I blame it on lack of parenting and morals. I played games as a kid and still do. Never did I even fantasize about killing another human being IRL.

Yep. Same here.

Computer games don't turn people into violent criminals. Anyone who thinks they do is delusional.

[Jacque67 7,328]

Computer games are so much more advanced the 5 years ago. The technology is so much more advanced( at least in Japan) One can have a relationship with a computer graphic nowadays. One can even marry a computer graphic. No need to interact with a living person- far too scary.

[Penny Lane 8,159]

Computer games are so much more advanced the 5 years ago. The technology is so much more advanced( at least in Japan) One can have a relationship with a computer graphic nowadays. One can even marry a computer graphic. No need to interact with a living person- far too scary.

I think you're making a whole crapload of assumptions with nothing to back them up.

[Jacque67 7,328]

no. I have a Nintendo game, which has now been banned by the Japanese gov, whereby one could date 3 women and choose which one , one wanted to have a relationship with. Some males in Tokyo went on dates to restaurants with their Nintendo girlfriends, and even married them. Call me a liar if you want, I don't know your age, but times have changed.

Edited August 23, 2013 by Jacque67

[Jacque67 7,328]

Google Love plus ( Nintendo)

[Penny Lane 8,159]

no. I have a Nintendo game, which has now been banned by the Japanese gov, whereby one could date 3 women and choose which one , one wanted to have a relationship with. Some males in Tokyo went on dates to restaurants with their Nintendo girlfriends, and even married them. Call me a liar if you want, I don't know your age, but times have changed.

Great. How many of those men went out and killed somebody?

I wasn't calling you a liar. I'm saying you're looking to blame something and video games likely isn't where you should be pointing your finger.

Edited August 23, 2013 by Penny Lane

[Jacque67 7,328]

Great. How many of those men went out and killed somebody?

I wasn't calling you a liar. I'm saying you're looking to blame something and video games likely isn't where you should be pointing your finger.

You guess! Reality is becoming more abstract. Killing is just a game with no apparent consequences in young people's minds.

[Karee 4,191]

Great. How many of those men went out and killed somebody?

I wasn't calling you a liar. I'm saying you're looking to blame something and video games likely isn't where you should be pointing your finger.

It's GWB's fault. And Obama. Both of them.

[Jacque67 7,328]

Video games are a thing of the past. It's Nintendo 3d and wii plus nowadays.

It's GWB's fault. And Obama. Both of them.

It's your fault!

[Penny Lane 8,159]

You guess! Reality is becoming more abstract. Killing is just a game with no apparent consequences in young people's minds.

And you believe video games are responsible for this attitude?

Canada has the same video games the US does. Why are the violent crime rates so drastically different if the kids are playing the same games?

Video games are a thing of the past. It's Nintendo 3d and wii plus nowadays.

What? The XBOX and PS3 are very popular. Video games are hardly a thing of the past.