LONG BEACH, Calif. (KNX) — Long Beach police are searching for the man who physically assaulted a 72-year-old woman, who later died in a skilled nursing unit.
Long Beach police said homicide detectives were made aware of the woman’s autopsy results this week, and now her death is officially a murder investigation.
The victim, identified by authorities as Barbara Scott, was punched by a man in his 20s after she tried to intervene in an argument he was having with another woman. The assault happened just after 9 a.m. on Aug. 21, 2021 in the 1000 block of Redondo Avenue.
Following the attack, police interviewed Scott as she was being treated by Long Beach Fire Department personnel for a complaint of pain to her upper body.
Scott told officers she was in an alleyway when she intervened in the argument. Scott said the man approached her and struck her with his fist in her upper body, causing her to fall to the ground before the man and other woman left the area.
Later that day, officers responded to the same area for a call about an unresponsive woman, who was later found out to be Scott, in her apartment.
Scott was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. On Sept. 16, 2021, officers responded to a local skilled nursing facility after receiving a report that Scott had passed away.
The coroner’s autopsy determined Scott’s death was a homicide stemming from the Aug. 21 assault, police said.
There wasn’t any suspect information available other than the man’s age.
Anyone with information regarding the assault is urged to contact homicide Det. Ethan Shear at (562) 570-7244. Anonymous tips may be submitted through "LA Crime Stoppers" by calling (800) 222-8477.
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