Man, 70, Injured in Garden Shears Attack Has Died: Police

LAKE COUNTY, IL — A 70-year-old Beach Park man has died after an attack Thursday. Authorities say the man, whose name is not yet being released, died at 1:28 p.m. Friday at Vista East Medical Center. Just hours earlier, his son, George W. Bryce, was ordered a steep $2 million bail after prosecutors said he attacked his father with a garden shears at their home on Thursday afternoon.

Bryce is being held at the Lake County Jail on an attempted murder charge, with additional charges expected to be filed in the case, authorities said.

“The incident is now being investigated as a homicide,” according to a statement from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. An autopsy is being scheduled.

The Lake County Sheriff's Office was first called to a home in the 12900 block of Peacock Avenue, where Bryce and his father lived, at about 3:05 p.m. Thursday for a report of a domestic battery in progress. When deputies arrived, they found the 70-year-old man lying on the floor with several "sharp-force injuries," police said.

Emergency personnel first at the scene administered aid to the man before he was taken to the Vista East Medical Center with critical injuries, according to the news release. The garden shears, which Bryce allegedly used to injure his father, were found at the scene, Lake County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Christopher Covelli told Patch.

Covelli could not elaborate on how deputies were able to quickly ascertain Bryce was responsible for his father's injuries and also could not provide details on what lead to the attack.

During a bond hearing Friday, Bryce was ordered a $2 million bail, and he must post 10 percent, or $200,000, to be released from custody, prosecutors said. If released, Judge Paul D. Novak ordered he not have contact with witnesses involved in the case, not possess any weapons and refrain from consuming drugs or alcohol.

Bryce is due back in court on July 23.

Check back with Patch for updates on this developing story.