Homicide Report > John Lazzaro, 91
John Lazzaro, 91
Died Dec. 4, 2010
John Lazzaro, a 91-year-old white male, died Saturday Dec. 4, from injuries suffered the previous month at a Pomona rehabilitation center in the 2300 block of South Towne Avenue, according to authorities.
John Lazzaro had to have his arm amputated and suffered facial wounds in the Nov. 23 assault inside his room at the Chino Valley Health Care Center, according to Pomona police.
A fellow patient Matthew Harvey, 47, was found inside the room after the attack, said Sgt. Jaime Gutierrez. Gutierrez said Harvey, whom he described as having diminished mental capacity, used bodily force to inflict severe trauma on Lazzaro.
Because of his diminished mental capacity, Harvey was not arrested but was taken to a lockdown facility for his safety and that of other patients, Gutierrez said.
Chino Valley Health Care Center is a 102-bed nursing facility.
Gutierrez said detectives will present the case to the L.A. County district attorney’s office for review.
— Richard Winton
Two reader comments about John Lazzaro
This is the fault of the staff and staff only. A mental patient can't be blamed if he isn't reasonable, and you know his condition ahead of time. This is negligence. Sad enough these people aren't wanted... but if the caretakers don't care, who they have? R.I.P. big man.
Dec. 8, 2010 at 10:45 p.m.
Please don't generalize when it comes to patients in a nursing home. My dad was very loved and will be very missed.
Dec. 12, 2010 at 8:22 p.m.
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