MOUNT RAINIER, Md. (AP) — Prosecutors have dropped charges against a Maryland man accused of beating a 72-year-old man with a baseball bat.
The Washington Post reports that investigators no longer believe Justin C. Strong, 22, of Mount Rainier was responsible for the September attack.
State’s attorney’s office spokesman John Erzen says investigators now think Edwin M. Gonzalez, 20, was responsible.
Strong has been released from jail and Gonzalez has been arrested and charged with attempted first-degree murder and related counts.
Police say someone brandished a knife and demanded the victim’s wallet about 6 a.m. on Sept. 15 on Bladensburg Road.
When the victim refused, the would-be robber left and returned with aluminum baseball bat.
The victim was hospitalized with serious injuries.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
