Police are continuing to investigate a savage attack that led to the death of a 73-year-old man.
Ellsworth Monroe of the 5400 block of Clover Road was beaten by a group of six or seven men about 11:20 p.m. April 25, said Officer Troy Harris, a police spokesman. He died of his injuries Friday.
Police interviewed witnesses who said that Monroe was in the 3900 block of W. Belvedere Ave. when he was approached by the men, one of whom struck Monroe on the head, causing him to fall to the ground. He was then punched and kicked by all members of the group, Harris said. Police believe that Monroe also was robbed. The group then fled west on Belvedere Avenue, Harris said.
Monroe was taken to Sinai Hospital, where he died.
As of yesterday, there had been 66 homicides in the city this year, down from 97 by the same time last year.
Annie Linskey
2 acquitted in brawl that paralyzed man
Two Edgewood sisters who were accused of participating in a brawl that left a man paralyzed have been acquitted of all charges, including attempted first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
Harford County Circuit Judge Thomas Marshall dismissed 14 of the 18 charges against Tommyrre Ellysse Reid, 16, and Layelle Shalae Reid, 15, on Friday after finding there was insufficient evidence.
Later that day, a jury found the Reids, who were being tried as adults, not guilty on the remaining charges, which included three counts of second-degree assault and one count of disorderly conduct.
The Reids were accused of taking part in a Nov. 25 incident in which a crowd gathered at Gregory Simmons' home in the 1900 block of Eloise Lane. The incident erupted over a woman's relationship with a male neighbor and turned violent, with assailants using aluminum baseball bats and knives, according to police. Three people were sent to the hospital, including Simmons, who was stabbed twice and beaten.
"There was an abundance of evidence that girls had nothing to do with any stabbings or bats involved," said defense attorney David Henninger.
During the trial, Henninger said the Reid sisters were at the scene, but "it was clear they had nothing to do with the serious assaults."
Five other suspects, including the sisters' mother, Celestine Huff, have been charged in connection with the brawl.
"We're evaluating the charges on the remaining suspects," Harford County State's Attorney Joseph I. Cassilly said yesterday.
Madison Park
