LOS ANGELES, Calif. — A man is charged with murder for allegedly beating an 84 year old man with dementia and setting him on fire, Los Angeles prosecutors said. The victim, Bang Cho, had wandered away from a senior care home when he was attacked just before midnight on Sunday in downtown LA, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office.

The incident unfolded when Cho walked behind the suspect, Lavonta Wilder, and grabbed a bag Wilder was carrying, prosecutors said. Wilder, a 40 year old experiencing homelessness, allegedly “viciously” punched and kicked Cho, then lifted the elderly man over his shoulder and slammed him to the ground, and then set him on fire. Cho was taken to a hospital where he died the next day. Wilder is charged with murder and faces a special allegation of having a prior serious felony. He is due in court for an arraignment next month.

The Victim: Bang Cho, 84, Living with Dementia

Bang Cho was 84 years old. He was an elderly man living with dementia, a progressive neurological condition that impairs memory, thinking, and behavior. People with dementia can become disoriented, confused, and may wander away from safe environments. Cho had wandered away from a senior care home. He was lost. He was vulnerable. He was alone on the streets of downtown Los Angeles just before midnight.

Cho was not a threat. He was not aggressive. He was not trying to harm anyone. He was an elderly man with a medical condition that had caused him to become separated from his caregivers. He was likely frightened, confused, and in need of help.

Instead of receiving help, he was brutally murdered.

The Attack: A Violent Encounter Just Before Midnight

The incident unfolded just before midnight on Sunday in downtown Los Angeles. The area near skid row and the surrounding neighborhoods is known for its large homeless population, its social services, and its high rates of crime and poverty. Cho, wandering alone, encountered Lavonta Wilder.

According to prosecutors, Cho walked behind Wilder and grabbed a bag that Wilder was carrying. The bag belonged to Wilder. Cho, disoriented and confused, may have reached for the bag out of curiosity, or because he thought it was his own, or because he was trying to steady himself. He was not trying to steal. He was not trying to rob. He was an 84 year old man with dementia.

Wilder’s response was not proportional. It was not defensive. It was not reasonable. It was brutal.

The Brutality: Punched, Kicked, Slammed, and Set on Fire

Prosecutors allege that Wilder “viciously” punched and kicked Cho. The elderly man was struck multiple times. He was knocked to the ground. Then Wilder lifted Cho over his shoulder and slammed him to the ground. The force of the slam would have caused catastrophic injuries to an 84 year old body. Bones would break. Organs would rupture. The brain would be damaged.

But the violence did not stop there. Wilder then set Cho on fire. He set an 84 year old man on fire. He used an accelerant, likely lighter fluid or gasoline. He ignited it. Cho’s clothes caught fire. His skin burned. He was conscious. He was alive. He felt the flames.

Cho was taken to a hospital after the attack. Despite the efforts of doctors and nurses, he died the next day from his injuries. The cause of death will include blunt force trauma from the beating and slam, as well as burns from the fire. He died in a hospital bed, far from his family, far from the senior care home where he should have been safe.

The Suspect: Lavonta Wilder, 40, Experiencing Homelessness

Lavonta Wilder is 40 years old. He is described as a person experiencing homelessness. He lives on the streets. He carries his belongings in bags. When Cho grabbed one of those bags, Wilder snapped.

Wilder is charged with murder. He also faces a special allegation of having a prior serious felony. That means that Wilder has been convicted of a serious crime before. He is not a first time offender. He has a criminal history. That history will be presented to the jury if the case goes to trial. It could increase his sentence if he is convicted.

Wilder is due in court for an arraignment next month. At the arraignment, he will be formally charged. He will enter a plea. He will likely plead not guilty. His defense attorney will argue that Wilder acted in self defense, or that he did not intend to kill Cho, or that he was not in his right mind at the time of the attack.

But the evidence is brutal. Witnesses may have seen the attack. Surveillance cameras may have captured it. The physical evidence will be clear. Cho was an 84 year old man with dementia. Wilder was a 40 year old man in good health. There is no justification for what he did.

The Statement: DA Nathan Hochman

“The level of violence alleged here is brutal, callous and extreme,” LA County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in a statement.

Cho “was disoriented and living with dementia, conditions that made him particularly vulnerable,” Hochman said. “Our thoughts are with the victim’s family as they endure this unimaginable tragedy.”

The DA’s statement reflects the outrage that the community feels. This was not a simple argument. This was not a fight between equals. This was a brutal attack on a vulnerable elderly man who could not defend himself.

The Vulnerability of Those with Dementia

Bang Cho’s case highlights the vulnerability of people living with dementia. They wander. They become disoriented. They may approach strangers. They may appear confused or threatening when they are not. They cannot always explain themselves. They cannot always protect themselves.

Senior care homes have a responsibility to keep their residents safe. Cho wandered away. He was able to leave the facility. That should not have happened. The facility may face scrutiny. The family may file a lawsuit. But no amount of accountability will bring Cho back.

The Community: Outrage and Grief

The Los Angeles community is outraged. An 84 year old man with dementia was beaten and set on fire. The suspect is in custody. The DA has filed charges. But the anger remains. How could someone do this to an elderly man? How could anyone be so cruel?

Cho’s family is devastated. They have lost a father, a grandfather, a loved one. They are planning a funeral instead of celebrating a milestone. They are looking at photographs instead of making new memories. The pain is immeasurable.

Holding Onto Accountability

As the legal case moves forward, Lavonta Wilder will have to answer for his actions. He will face a jury. The prosecution will present evidence. The defense will try to humanize him or to raise doubt. But the facts are brutal. An 84 year old man with dementia was beaten and set on fire. Wilder did it.

If convicted, Wilder faces life in prison. The prior serious felony allegation could increase his sentence. He may never be released.

Conclusion: A Brutal Murder in Downtown LA

The murder of Bang Cho, 84, who was beaten and set on fire by Lavonta Wilder, 40, after the elderly man with dementia wandered away from a senior care home and grabbed a bag, is a tragedy that has left a family shattered and a community in outrage. Wilder is charged with murder and faces a prior serious felony allegation. He is due in court next month.

As Los Angeles mourns, the community stands together in grief, offering prayers and support to Cho’s family. Rest in peace, Bang Cho. You were loved. You will be missed. And your memory will live on in the hearts of everyone who knew you. Gone too soon, forever remembered.