A 57-year-old man has been taken into custody for the assault of an elderly man following a dispute over a parking spot at a Food Town grocery store in north Harris County. The suspect, identified as Anthony Ray Boyce, allegedly assaulted 80-year-old Earl Hollins last Friday, according to authorities.
The incident, initially reported as an aggravated robbery, shifted course upon investigation. No items were taken from Hollins, who was later identified as the victim. Both men, as per reports from Click2Houston, were familiar with each other and frequented the grocery store. Sergeant Jeff Thomas, in an account to the press, mentioned that video footage didn't indicate any impending confrontation before the attack occurred.
Authorities apprehended Boyce on a charge of Aggravated Assault - Serious Bodily Injury. Following the attack, he was seen leaving the area in a maroon Ford F150, as described by officials. In a critical state, Hollins had to be airlifted to Kingwood Hospital from Houston Northwest Medical Center. His current condition remains critical, and the investigation into what spurred this sudden violence is ongoing.
The Harris County Sheriff, Ed Gonzalez, further confirmed that the motive behind the assault was not believed to be a robbery and that Boyce is now facing a charge of aggravated assault with serious bodily injury. "The two men were acquainted before the incident took place," Gonzalez stated in a report by ABC13. The sheriff's department and local authorities are continuing to piece together the details of this altercation as Boyce remains in the Harris County Jail.
