Why the Two Teens Accused of Beating WWII Vet Delbert Belton to Death Now Need to Be Protected

The two teenagers accused of beating 88-year-old World War II veteran Delbert Belton to death with flashlights are now in protective custody after a white supremacist prison gang allegedly put a $10,000 bounty on their heads.

Kenan Adams-Kinard and Demetrius Glenn, both of Spokane, Wash., allegedly murdered Belton in a parking lot in earlier this year during a robbery attempt. Both teens deny they committed murder and have trials set for March 17.

Screengrab via the Daily Mail

Delbert Belton, 88, died from his injuries after he was beaten in a parking lot in Spokane, Wash. (Image source: KHQ-TV)

However, the two accused murderers had to be placed in protective custody rather than in juvenile detention after the "Aryan Brotherhood" reportedly put up the award for anyone willing to kill the two 16-year-olds as they await trial, the Spokesman-Review reports, citing court documents.

Spokane Police Sgt. Tom Hill reportedly told the Spokane County Superior Court that he received information about the bounty and officials moved to protect the teenagers.

More from the Spokesman-Review:

During the hearing, Adams-Kinard’s defense attorney objected to the order, claiming state law prevented Hayes from housing a juvenile inmate with adults unless certain conditions were met. In subsequent filings, Hayes said she made the decision to avoid “tragic results” that may have occurred if the teen was led through the open courtyard.

Jail records list both boys as Spokane County Jail inmates, but Glenn’s attorney said they’re both in the Juvenile Detention Center.

In a letter police have attributed to Adams-Kinard, the teen says he began pummeling Belton after a crack cocaine deal went wrong.

(H/T: Daily Mail)

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