Erie man charged with homicide in downtown beating that led to death of 80-year-old man
An Erie man accused of viciously beating an 80-year-old man during an altercation in the city's downtown in August has been charged with homicide following the victim's death on Tuesday.
Luis A. Salome-Gonzalez, 30, was arraigned Thursday afternoon on criminal homicide, aggravated assault and related counts in the death of Timothy L. Smith, who died at UPMC Hamot on Tuesday morning after being hospitalized since the Aug. 18 attack.
Erie 2nd Ward District Judge Edward Wilson returned Salome-Gonzalez to the Erie County Prison without bond following the arraignment. Salome-Gonzalez has been in prison since the attack.
Erie County Coroner Lyell Cook ruled Smith's death a homicide following an autopsy on Wednesday. Cook said the cause of death was complications of blunt-force trauma to the head "due to an assault by a known assailant."
Smith, last known to live at the Erie City Mission, 1017 French St., had been on life support since the attack, according to Cook.
Salome-Gonzalez was initially charged by Erie police after the attack with a felony count of aggravated assault; misdemeanor counts of possession of a weapon, simple assault, recklessly endangering and disorderly conduct; and a summary count of harassment. Those charges were withdrawn on Thursday afternoon with the filing of the new charges.
Salome-Gonzalez is tentatively scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing in the homicide case on Oct. 7, according to online court docket information.
More:Erie police probe motive after attack on 80-year-old man leaves victim in a coma
Erie County District Attorney Elizabeth Hirz said Thursday she could not comment on a pending criminal case.
The attack
Investigators said the attack happened during an altercation between Smith and Salome-Gonzalez on Aug. 18 at about 2:25 p.m. near a parking deck at East 11th and French streets, not far from the City Mission.
Erie police accuse Salome-Gonzalez of striking Smith in the upper chest and chin area with a garbage can and knocking Smith to the ground. Witnesses told police that after Smith was knocked down, Salome-Gonzalez stood over him and struck him in the face multiple times, according to the criminal complaint filed by Detective Sgt. Craig Stoker and Detective James Langdon.
The witnesses said they heard Salome-Gonzalez and Smith arguing before the assault.
Smith was reported as unresponsive, with no pulse and blood on his face and the back of his head, after he was assaulted. He was taken to UPMC Hamot, where he was in a coma, police reported after the incident.
Officers were given a description of the suspect and were told he fled east on East 11th Street. The officers arrested Salome-Gonzalez a short time later.
The Coroner's Office is looking for relatives of Smith. The office asked anyone with information to call 814-452-2911.
Staff writer Ed Palattella contributed to this report.
Contact Tim Hahn at thahn@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNhahn.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie man charged with homicide after 80-year-old beating victim dies
