Elderly Male Severely Beaten By Roommate
January 12, 2011
On January 11 at approximately 7:30 pm, Mesa officers responded
to a suspicious vehicle in the 700 block of East 1st Avenue.
When they arrived, they found Gene Fitzsimmons (81) in the front
seat of the vehicle. Fitzsimmons' face was very swollen and his
eyes nearly swollen shut. His clothing was covered in blood and
he could only moan when officers spoke to him. Mesa Fire
responded and treated Fitzsimmons before transporting him to a
local hospital.
Officers
investigating the case began checking the area and learned that
a male subject had walked away from a halfway house adjacent to
where Fitzsimmons was found just prior to their arrival.
Checking the area, they were able to locate Henry Eric Young
(41, seen here in photo). When Young was contacted, he had
swollen hands and what appeared to be blood on his clothing.
About the same time, officers located Fitzsimmons' home in East
Mesa. There was no answer at the door, but looking through the
windows they could see large amounts of blood throughout the
house. They entered the home and clear signs of a struggle could
be seen throughout the house. Officers also learned that Young
had been taken in by Fitzsimmons at his home. Neighbors reported
that from time to time, Fitzsimmons would take in troubled men
to try and help them out. Young had been seen driving in the car
with Fitzsimmons earlier in the day.
Young was asked about the swelling to his hands and blood on his
clothing. He refused to answer any questions about the incident.
The reason for the assault is not currently known. Based on the
evidence, Young was booked for one count of aggravated assault,
a class 4 felony.
Fitzsimmons was listed in critical condition upon last report.
He suffered two broken ribs, broken nose and bleeding to the
brain.