Officials: COVID-19 patient beat fellow patient to death at Antelope Valley Hospital

LANCASTER, Calif. -- A COVID-19 patient allegedly beat a fellow patient to death inside Antelope Valley Hospital, officials say.

The gruesome murder happened the morning of Dec. 17. Investigators say a man in the COVID-19 unit beat his roommate, a man in his 80s, severely with an oxygen tank.

The victim died the day after the attack.

The two were strangers to each other. A motive for the attack is unclear.

The suspect was arrested and has been charged with murder, with an enhancement based on the victim's age. His name has not been released.