91-year-old man dies after attack by another patient at Pomona nursing home

A 91-year-old man has died of injuries he received in an attack by a patient with diminished mental capacity at a Pomona rehabilitation center.

John Lazzaro had to have his arm amputated and suffered facial wounds in the Nov. 23 assault inside his room at the Chino Valley Health Care Center by fellow patient Matthew Harvey.

Lazzaro died Dec. 4, said Sgt. Jaime Gutierrez of the Pomona Police Department.

Harvey, 47, was found inside the room after the attack. Gutierrez said Harvey used bodily force to inflict severe trauma on Lazzaro.

Because of his diminished mental capacity, Harvey was not arrested but was taken to a lockdown facility for his safety and that of other patients, Gutierrez said.

Chino Valley Health Care Center is 102-bed nursing facility.

Gutierrez said detectives will present the case to the L.A. County District Attorney’s office for review.

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Map shows location of Nov. 23 assault in purple, and 13 homicides, in red, since January 2007. Credit: Los Angeles Times Homicide Report

Comments

[S.G.]

This is sickening! My father is in a nursing home and this case disturbs me. There are times when my family was nervous about him sharing a room with another patient, so we moved him to a single. Sometimes you have to err on caution!

Chino Valley Health Care Center should have known better and used some common sense! Why would you have a 47 yo share a room with a 91 yo?! Ridiculous!

[Astonished]

Can someone please explain to me why a patient with "diminished mental capacity" was allowed to roam at will in this facility! And where were the charge nurses!

[AB]

This is awful.

[AB]

Almost 30 years ago I knew the guy who recently attacked the fellow patient. I have always wondered what happened to him. This is a tragic, tragic story.

[Stephen]

Nothing will happen to the patient with diminished mental capacity, but the nursing home will be sued for millions for failing to protect an old, defenseless patient forced to share a room with someone dangerous.

[cali]

the family of the 91yr needs to sue the hell out of that nursing home because they should have kept that matthew guy in restraints so that he wouldnt be able to attack anyone much less kill someone so yes, they should get sued because someone was not doing their job

[AB]

Does anyone know any specific details? What kind of "diminished mental capacity"?

[Olden_Atwoody]

Sounds like the nursing home was accepting borderline patients in order to maintain profitability.

LA Times? We need an investigative story here - it's probably the tip of the iceberg for the industry.

[health chrisranjana.com developers]

Mr. Harvey could have been transferred to the lock up facility before itself when he has been diagnosed to have diminished mental capacity and he is capable of inflicting harm to other residents of the facility.
Enough staffs should be employed to take care of the mental, physical and safety needs of the residents of the facility.
how long can he be locked up without socialization with others? He has to be treated for his aggressiveness and allowed to socialize with others under supervision.

[Think About It, Please!!!!!]

We don't know that Mr. Harvey actually attacked that man. If Mr Harvey has dementia and is unable to recount what took place, he could be set up to take the fall for staff abuse. I smell a rat here. The atrocities that occur in dementia wards would make your head spin. And why wasn't the legal guardian notified?