A 40-year-old man was charged with murder after prosecutors allege he beat an 84-year-old man with dementia to death in Downtown Los Angeles.
Lavonta Martel Wilder was charged Wednesday, April 22, and, if convicted, faces up to life in state prison, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Prosecutors allege that, on April 19, Bang Cho was sitting on Sixth Street between Hope Street and Grand Avenue when he got up, walked behind Wilder and grabbed one of the bags Wilder was carrying.
Wilder then punched and kicked Cho’s body and head and lifted Cho over his shoulders before setting him on fire, prosecutors said.
Cho was taken to a hospital, where he died the next day.
Wilder’s arraignment was continued until May 21. His bail is set at $2.05 million.