A US COVID-19 patient has been charged with murder after allegedly beating his hospital roommate to death with an oxygen tank.
California man Jesse Martinez, 37, allegedly struck the 87-year-old he shared a room with at the hospital with the tank on December 17, reports ABC.
According to the local sheriff's department, the attack unfolded as the victim, also a COVID-19 patient, began to pray.
"The suspect became upset when the victim started to pray. He then struck the victim with an oxygen tank," the sheriff's statement read.
Martinez did not know the victim, who died from his injuries the day following the attack.
Martinez has also been charged with a hate crime enhancement and elder abuse, his bail has been set at US$1 million and he is due to appear in court on Monday (local time).
