A transient accused of beating a 85-year-old man in downtown Los Angeles pleaded not guilty Tuesday to an attempted murder charge that was filed prior to the victim’s death, which occurred nine days after the apparently random attack.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Sergio C. Tapia II told LaFawn Parker, 46, that “there may be an amended complaint” by the time the defendant returns to court April 22 for a hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to require him to stand trial.
Authorities said Parker would be booked on suspicion of murder in the wake of the victim’s death, but no murder charge had been filed as of this afternoon.
Authorities have not yet released the name of the victim, who died Monday at a hospital.
The beating took place about 3:30 p.m. April 2 near Grand and Olive streets, according to the watch commander at the Los Angeles Police Department’s Central Station.
Parker, who police described as a transient, allegedly walked up to the victim and beat and kicked him before being pepper-sprayed by a security guard and taken into custody.
Parker was ordered to be held in lieu of $1 million bail.
–City News Service