Additional Coverage:
A homeless man has been charged with murder in connection to the brutal attack on an 84-year-old man with dementia in downtown Los Angeles late Sunday night. Authorities identified the suspect as 40-year-old Lavonta Martel Wilder, who was formally charged Thursday by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Wilder faces one count of murder, along with a special allegation citing a prior serious felony. If convicted, he could be sentenced to life in prison.
District Attorney Nathan Hochman described the case as especially egregious due to the victim’s vulnerability. “This case involves an elderly man who was disoriented and living with dementia, conditions that made him particularly vulnerable,” Hochman said. “The level of violence alleged here is brutal, callous and extreme, and our prosecutors will pursue this case with the urgency it demands to ensure accountability and justice for the victim and his loved ones.”
The victim, Bang Cho, had wandered away from a convalescent home and was found seated on Sixth Street near Hope Street and Grand Avenue shortly before midnight. According to the DA’s office, Cho stood up, briefly approached a passerby, then walked behind Wilder and grabbed one of his bags.
Authorities say Wilder responded with a violent assault, repeatedly punching and kicking Cho in the head and body. He then lifted Cho over his shoulder, slammed him to the ground, and set him on fire.
Cho was rushed to a hospital but succumbed to his injuries the following day.
Wilder was later apprehended on Sixth Street and taken into custody. Bail was set at more than $2 million, with an arraignment scheduled for May 21. The investigation into the incident remains ongoing.
“Our thoughts are with the victim’s family as they endure this unimaginable tragedy,” Hochman added.