Anaheim : Murder Charge Sought After Attack Victim Dies
A 28-year-old man struck in the head with a baseball bat nine days ago has died, leading Anaheim police on Tuesday to seek a murder charge against his suspected assailant.
Police already had arrested James Thomas Duffy, 24, of Romoland in connection with the baseball bat attack on Michael Rushing of Placentia and another man.
Rushing, in a coma since he was struck Aug. 19, died at 3:15 p.m. Monday at Western Medical Center in Santa Ana without regaining consciousness, said Sgt. John Haradon. Police have no motive for the attack.
Rushing and Fred Torres, 24, of Fullerton, were in the parking lot of Harvey’s Bar and Grill, 3020 E. Coronado St., when a man with a baseball bat apparently came up behind them and swung at Rushing, hitting him solidly in the side of the head.
The man also attacked Torres, hitting him three or four times, before jumping into a van and fleeing, the police officer said.
Police arrested Duffy at his home on the following morning. He remains in Orange County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bond.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
