Justice for Delbert Belton

From KXLY in Spokane:

WWII veteran Delbert Belton survived being wounded in action during the Battle of Okinawa only to be beaten and left for dead by two teens at the Eagles Lodge in Spokane on Wednesday evening.

Belton, 88, succumbed to his injuries Thursday morning at Sacred Heart Medical Center.

Witnesses say Belton was in the parking lot of the Eagles Lodge at 6410 N. Lidgerwood, adjacent to the Eagles Ice-A-Rena, around 8 p.m. Wednesday when the two male suspects attacked him as he was about to head inside to play pool.

For the full article, see WWII vet, beaten by teens outside Eagles Lodge, dies (KXLY).

The two suspects, black males in their teens, are still at large. There’s footage of them on KXLY’s site.

Find them and charge them as adults. These two thugs made a conscious choice to brutally kill an elderly man– what vile cowards. Their age, their upbringing, etc. should not be used as reasons why they should get light sentences or be let off the hook. The Seattle area already saw how well those “second chances” that some people think teenagers should automatically be given worked in the Tuba Man case. That killer was let off only to go out and kill again.

May these murderers be apprehended quickly and may Benton and his service to our country never be forgotten. After all…

It is the Soldier, not the minister, who has given us freedom of religion.
It is the Soldier, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the Soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer, who has given us freedom to protest.
It is the Soldier, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the Soldier, not the politician, who has given us the right to vote.
It is the Soldier who salutes the flag,
Who serves beneath the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the flag,
Who allows the protester to burn the flag.

-Charles Province

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Photos of the battle Belton was wounded in can be found here. This is what this man lived through only to murdered 68 years later.

The National World War II Museum says:

According to statistics released by the Veteran’s Administration, our World War II vets are dying at a rate of just over 600 a day. This means there are approximately only 1.2 million veterans remaining of the 16 million who served our nation in World War II.

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KXLY is posting updates here. A memorial fund has been set up at Wells Fargo Bank and a candlelight vigil was organized by a stranger that was attended by 1000 people.

They are also reporting that:

One suspect, Demetrius Glenn, 16, was arrested Thursday night and will be charged as an adult on charges of First Degree Murder and First Degree Robbery.

The second suspect in Belton’s death, 16-year-old Kenan Adams-Kinard, remains at large.

This website reports something that no one will find surprising:

The Los Angeles Times reports the teen who was has been arrested has a lengthy record, including a conviction in 2012 for fourth-degree assault, obstructing a police officer and misdemeanor rioting, according to juvenile court officials. 

More details are coming out about Belton’s murder. He was beaten with flashlights and had numerous severe head injuries. His body was found wedged between the front seats of his car. A witness said he was covered in blood and unrecognizable.

Somebody knows where second suspect Kenan Adams-Kinard is and needs to turn him in to avoid being charged as an accomplice. Photos of suspects are here and here.

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Update 8/26/13: The second suspect has been captured and those who helped him elude police are in hot water too. The PC affidavit, thanks to KXLY, is here.

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