A 69-year-old California resident remained in critical condition Wednesday following a severe assault outside his Escondido residence, with police charging a 32-year-old man with attempted murder.
Escondido police responded at 2:15 p.m. to an assault in progress near East Mission Avenue and Buchanan Street. Officers arrived to find the victim seriously injured and immediately arrested Thomas Caleb Butler, 32, at the scene.
The Arrest and Charges`
Butler was charged with attempted murder and booked into Vista Detention Facility in San Diego County without bail. The suspect initially fled the scene but was quickly apprehended by responding officers.
A utility worker who witnessed the attack intervened to help restrain the suspect until police arrived. The bystander sustained injuries during the physical confrontation.
The Victim’s Condition
The victim was transported to a trauma center where he remains hospitalized in the intensive care unit. His wife, Maria Garcia, told CBS 8 that medical professionals have indicated her husband is unlikely to survive his injuries.
