Man Arrested In Fatal Hammer Attack In Costa Mesa

COSTA MESA (CBSLA.com) — A man has been taken into custody on suspicion of beating another man to death with a hammer in Costa Mesa.

Police were called to Vanguard Way and Danbury Lane to a report of a man hitting another man with a hammer at about 8:45 a.m. and made an arrest, Costa Mesa police Lt. Paul Beckman said.

The attack took place in the parking lot of the Monticello apartments. The victim, who had been sitting in his car, was assaulted, but Beckman declined to elaborate.

The first officer on the scene found a man on his back with visible injuries and another man standing nearby unarmed, Beckman said. The officer tried to speak to the man, who then took off running.

Neighbors say they saw ATF agents enter the man's apartment months ago but were not sure for what. One neighbor said he knew the man was on medication for back pain but said he did not seem crazy.

The officer gave chase and subdued the suspect with a Taser, Beckman said, and another officer helped handcuffed him.

After capturing the man, the officers returned to the victim and found him dead.

The suspect, whose name was not released, was taken to a hospital for minor injuries. The officer was not injured.

The weapon believed to have been used in the assault was recovered in the car, Beckman said.

The relationship between the victim and suspect was not known, and police say there is no known motive at this time.