• Delbert Belton, 88, was set upon in the parking lot of the Eagles Lodge in Spokane, Washington on Wednesday night
  • He died on Thursday morning in hospital after being admitted with serious head injuries
  • His daughter-in-law says doctors said he was found bleeding from all parts of his face
  • Police suspect the two teen suspects used heavy flashlights to attack the veteran
  • One juvenile was arrested this morning

By James Nye

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Senseless: Delbert Belton an 88-year-old veteran of World War II was beaten to death outside the Eagles Lodge in Spokane, and police are looking for two young men who may be responsible for the attack

Senseless: Delbert Belton an 88-year-old veteran of World War II was beaten to death outside the Eagles Lodge in Spokane, and police are looking for two young men who may be responsible for the attack

A teenager has been arrested after a World War Two veteran nicknamed 'Shorty' who served in the Battle of Okinawa was brutally beaten by two men and left to die outside his regular bar in Spokane, Washington, on Wednesday.

Delbert Belton, 88, who was shot in the leg during the pivotal battle of the Pacific campaign, passed away from serious head injuries on Thursday at Sacred Heart Medical Center in the city.

Police told his daughter-in-law, Bobby, that he was beaten with heavy flashlights in the assault which left him bleeding 'from every part of his face'.

Witnesses to the attack said that Belton, who was going to play pool, was outside the Eagles Lodge at around 8pm when two male suspects set upon him.

A friend said the veteran had just pulled up and was waiting for a female friend so she didn't have to walk in alone.

This morning Spokane Police Department announced one suspect had been arrested.

He was described as a juvenile but no other details were released.

'It does appear random. He was in the parking lot, 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,' Spokane Police Major Crimes Detective Lieutenant Mark Griffiths said.

On Thursday evening, police released surveillance photos of the two suspects, who they described as African-American males between the ages of 16 and 19.

Delbert 'Shorty' Belton was taken to the Intensive Care Unit of Sacred Heart after the assault at the Eagles Ice-A-Rena near Lidgerwood, but succumbed to his wounds.

Wanted: Police say they are looking for two possible suspects between the ages of 16 and 19

Wanted: Police released images of two possible suspects between the ages of 16 and 19. One juvenile was arrested this morning

Suspect Number Two: Police say two teens assaulted 88-year-old Delbert Belton outside the Eagles Lodge in North Spokane Wednesday night

Suspect Number Two: Police say two teens assaulted 88-year-old Delbert Belton outside the Eagles Lodge in North Spokane Wednesday night. One teen has been arrested in connection to the crime

Family members were today grieving for the widower, who is survived by one son Bill, 65, who is currently in hospital himself.

Daughter-in-law Bobby Belton told KREM-TV she received the police call and had to break the news to her ill husband.

'They used those great, big heavy flashlights,'' she said. 'The doctor said he was bleeding from all parts of his face.

'You expect older people to die but not in that way. You just don't do those kind of things'

His sister Alberta Tosh told the Spokesman Review: 'He was a good guy who would help anybody if they needed help,' she said.

His great-nephew Allen Hills told KHQ that the veteran took him in and put him back on his feet when he hit rock bottom.

'It seems trivial, but he really did save my life. He made it possible for me to get a job and find work,' he said.

'He wasn't just my great-uncle. He was a great person, and he didn't deserve to die like that.'

Devastated: Daughter-in-law Bobby Belton, pictured, told of her grief at the brutal killing

Devastated: Daughter-in-law Bobby Belton, pictured, told of her grief at the brutal killing

Friends were left equally outraged that the serviceman would die in such a callous way.

'He put his life on the line for our country to come home and 60 years later? Get beat to death?' his closest friend Ted Denison told the Review. 'That's not right.'

Denison who knew Belton for 23 years regularly played pool with the former soldier who went on to be an aluminum worker.

He worked at Kaiser Aluminum's Trentwood rolling mill until his retirement in 1982 but remained a skilled member of the Steelworkers Union.

His wife died several years ago.

'He went up there and played pool, met with some of the guys he used to work with at Kaiser Aluminum,' he told CNN.

'It's really depressing. Seems that all there is is bad news.'

Police said that Belton had just arrived with a lady-friend to play pool at the lodge when he was set upon.

Tribute: Friends raised a drink to Delbert Benton in the bar he was murdered outside today

Tribute: Friends raised a drink to Delbert Benton in the bar he was murdered outside today

'Those people to me are cowards,' said Denison to KXLY.com. 'They are cowards when they beat old people that are defenseless.... They need to be caught. Period. Because that's senseless. Beating an old man, what kind of person does that? But a wimp to me.'

'He was always there for me when I needed him,' he added. 'We'd joke back and forth. We were always having fun, some sort of fun.'

Their outrage was mirrored online. On Twitter a campaign titled Justice for Delbert Belton was spreading this morning.

Actor James Woods was one high profile supporter.

'Don't let him die without anyone caring,' read one of his many posts on the killing.

The police are looking for two male suspects in the attack, with one described as heavy set and wearing all black clothing and the other as 6 feet tall and 150 pounds.

One juvenile was arrested this morning but police did not release any further detail.

Officers investigating the deadly attack on Belton have also obtained surveillance footage from the scene.

The comments below have been moderated in advance.

Delbert Belton fought for this country nearly 70 years ago, bravely and valiantly, in a battle on a Pacific island that claimed thousands of lives. The teens who killed him aren't even good cannon fodder.

What a terrible thing to happen to a man who was clearly a credit to his nation. I can understand why emotions are running high, but maybe it is time to have another look at some aspects of the US justice system. I'm a Brit, so far be it for me to say how another nation should be run, but for such a great nation, it is baffling why so many dreadful crimes occur in the US. RIP Shorty

HATE CRIME.

Its not the people that kill people, its the Flashlights that kill people...

It's because of these little Trayvon Martin clones that Americans need stand your ground laws and guns.

Now the "gun grabbers" can have a new cause...ban flashlights! Flashlights kill people.

...And they want to take away our guns. (shakes head)

Liberals are responsible for every ill in both America and the world.

I see there's a lot of talk about Obama not being responsible for the actions of these youths and I agree. But Obama did cause this type of reaction by identifying with Trayvon Martin. This attack never should've been about race and neither should Trayvon's death been either.They were both senseless acts of violence which Obama and the rest of the "Sharpton's, Jackson's and Winfrey's should condemn equally as well.

Should hang these Bs out to dry,really should.

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