Deadly Hammer Attack at Costa Mesa University

COSTA MESA -- A man who was beaten to death with a hammer was found Wednesday in a parking area near Vanguard University in Costa Mesa, and a suspect was taken into custody.

Police were called to Vanguard Way and Danbury Lane about 8:45 a.m., Costa Mesa police Lt. Paul Beckman said.

Witnesses called police to report a man hitting another man with a hammer, Beckman said.

They indicated the victim was initially assaulted while seated in his vehicle, the lieutenant said.

The first officer on scene saw the victim lying on his back in the lot, with obvious signs of traumatic injuries, Beckman said. The suspect was standing nearby unarmed, and when the officer tried to talk to him, he ran away, Beckman said.

The officer chased after the suspect and was able to take him down with a stun gun, Beckman said.

The suspect was taken to an area hospital to be treated for minor injuries, Beckman said. Police recovered the weapon in the victim's vehicle, Beckman said.

It was not immediately known what relationship the two may have had or what motivated the attack, Beckman said.

Police described the suspect and victim as both being in their 50s, but did not immediately identify either man.

Geoff Huston, who lives nearby, told ABC7 that an eyewitness told him that a "disheveled" man armed with a hammer came up to the driver's side of the victim's car and repeatedly hit him in the face with the weapon. The victim got out of the car, then was attacked again, he said.

Police closed Vanguard between Fair Drive and Newport Boulevard for the investigation.

City News Service