LANCASTER, California — A crazed Covid patient in a California hospital allegedly bludgeoned his 82-year-old ward mate to death with an oxygen tank because the man started to pray, police said.
Jesse Martinez, 37, was receiving treatment at the Antelope Valley Hospital in Lancaster on Dec. 17, when he blew his top after the man he shared a room with knelt down to pray, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s office said.
“The suspect became upset when the victim started to pray. He then struck the victim,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement.
The victim– who was described by police only as Hispanic — died the next day. Investigators say the men didn’t know each other.
Martinez has been charged with murder as a hate crime and elder abuse and was held on $1 million bond.
Police said they are continuing to investigate.
