Police: Man, 72, died after parking lot tiff, punch in the face

By Pashtana Usufzy

Friday, Oct. 9, 2015 | 2:07 p.m.

A suspect arrested in the beating of a 72-year-old man in a Wal-Mart parking lot last month said he believed the man made an obscene gesture and was driving too close to his car, according to a Metro Police arrest report.

Surrey, British Columbia, resident James Northcott died Sept. 28 at Spring Valley Hospital, five days after being punched in the face during a dispute with 21-year-old Ramon Smith, police said.

The fight was captured by Walmart surveillance video, police said.

Northcott’s wife, who was sitting in the front passenger seat of their rental car, told police they were leaving the parking lot at 4505 W. Charleston Blvd. on Sept. 23 when a Hyundai Elantra backed out in front of them, causing Northcott to hit his brakes, according the report.

Northcott honked, and the man driving the other car got out in the middle of the parking lot travel lane, the wife told police.

The man approached Northcott and put his arm through the window, asking if Northcott had flipped him off, according to the report.

When Northcott told the man no and said he was just trying to leave, the man punched Northcott in the left eye before fleeing, Northcott’s wife told police.

The couple returned to their hotel room at the Orleans, and Northcott went to sleep before waking up disoriented, she told police.

He told his wife he had a headache and began to have seizures before collapsing onto the bed, police said.

An autopsy indicated he suffered a brain bleed, but the official cause and manner of death have not yet been released by the Clark County Coroner’s Office, police said.

Police are awaiting additional medical tests to determine if Smith, who was arrested on a felony count of battery with substantial bodily harm, will face additional charges, officials said.

Smith was initially arrested on outstanding traffic warrants Oct. 6, after police released surveillance images to the media and received multiple tips, according to the report.

During an interview with police, Smith said he and his girlfriend were in a borrowed car and Northcott’s vehicle came too close, so he rolled down his window and told Northcott to back up, police said.

He alleged Northcott rolled down the window and raised his middle finger, refusing to move, the report said.

Smith told police he grabbed Northcott’s glasses and that the 72-year-old man grabbed at him and scratched his neck, so he punched him in the face, the report said.

No injuries to Smith’s neck were visible during the interview, according to police.

The name of Smith’s attorney was not immediately available.