Second suspect arrested, charged over beating death of WWII veteran Delbert Belton

Police have arrested a second suspect over the death of World War II veteran Delbert Belton, who died last Thursday after being savagely beaten and robbed on his way to play pool with a friend.

Kenan Adams-Kinard, 16, was found hiding out in a basement apartment in Spokane city, Washington state, in the early hours of Monday, following a four-day manhunt.

His co-accused, Demetrius Glenn, also 16, turned himself into police on Friday and faced court on Monday.

Both teenagers have been charged with first-degree murder and robbery over the shocking death of 88-year-old Belton, who was allegedly beaten and left for dead in an Eagles Lodge parking lot — an American fraternal organization charity — on Wednesday night.

Lenna England, secretary for the gang unit of the Spokane County prosecuting attorney's office, said the accused would be tried as adults.  

They were being held in lieu of $2-million bail, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Another three youths were arrested for helping the accused avoid police detection. 

Belton is thought to have fought back against his attackers, which Spokane Police Chief Frank Straub said Monday may have worsened the beating.

“I’m not being critical of Mr. Belton," Straub told a news conference. "I would encourage individuals to fight back, and he should have, but it shouldn’t have happened to begin with, right? But I think a robbery just got worse.”

Belton was discovered in his vehicle and taken to hospital where he died a few hours later.

A flashlight is believed to have been used in the brutal attack on Belton, who was reportedly on his way to play pool with a friend.

"He came close to losing his life in service to this country on Okinawa, and then he gets killed needlessly on the parking lot while he was waiting for a friend," Straub said.

Belton was awarded a Purple Heart media after surviving a gunshot wound in the Battle of Okinawa.