70-year-old veteran accused of beating man with mallet
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A 70-year-old veteran is accused of beating another man with an iron mallet over payment for a ride.
It’s not clear how Tommie Thompson knew the victim, but police say Thompson attacked him with the mallet near a bus stop on South Third Street in South Memphis.
The victim said he and his girlfriend had been staying at the West Inn Motel, and Thompson was supposed to take them to a grocery store. When Thompson arrived, he told them he also had to pick up a friend.
The victim said he told Thompson to go ahead and pick up his friend. The victim said he walked across to catch a bus, and that’s when Thompson hit him from behind with the mallet and knocked him to the ground.
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He said Thompson continued to hit him with the mallet until he broke it and then began punching him and yelling, “Where’s my money?”
A passing motorist told officers she saw Thompson punching the victim while he was on the ground.
Thompson told police he was a Marine Corps veteran and suffered from PTSD. He was charged with simple assault and is being held on a $5,000 bond.
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