Man Arrested on Suspicion of Murder for Death During Burglary at Life Chiropractic College West

A 49-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder for the death of another man during a burglary at the Life Chiropractic College West in Hayward early Friday morning, police said today.

Tyler Richard Johnston, of Hayward, is currently being held without bail at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin for a probation violation but police said they believe he’s responsible for the death of 42-year-old Martin “Marty” Thorton at the chiropractic college, which is located at 25001 Industrial Blvd. Johnston is also being held on suspicion of burglary. Officers who responded to a report of a possible burglary at the college found some damage to a window that was apparently caused by a nearby U-Haul truck and a man, later identified as Thorton, lying on the ground unresponsive.

He was pronounced dead at the scene and police classified his death as a homicide. Sgt. Ryan Cantrell said investigators developed information that Thorton was in the process of burglarizing the college at the time of his death. An autopsy conducted today disclosed that Thorton died from major blunt force trauma, Cantrell said. Johnston was arrested in Hayward on Saturday, according to police. Cantrell said police plan to present their case against Johnston later this week to the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office so it can consider filing murder and burglary charges against him.

He said there’s no rush to charge Johnston because he’s being held on his alleged probation violation. Investigators determined that neither Thorton nor Johnston had any ties to the college, according to Cantrell. He said police would not disclose what they think happened in the incident at the college until charges are filed against Johnston.

Cantrell said the investigation is still ongoing and anyone with information about the incident should call Inspector Rob Lampkin at (510) 293-7034.

By Bay City News