91-Year-Old Military Veteran Dies After Home Invasion Beating

Tragic news particularly during the Veteran’s Day commemoration period. A 91-year-old U.S. Air Force veteran died over the weekend after being savagely beaten by thieves who broke into his Northern California home.

John Masson, who passed away Saturday at a local hospital from the home invasion-related injuries, served his country in World War II, Korea and Vietnam.

Three or four male thugs reportedly broke into the Masson residence in North Highlands, Calif., on October 28 at about 1:30 am and blindfolded Masson’s stepdaughter Akemi Girion and a caregiver. They also allegedly threatened the caregiver with a gun.

After the intruders confronted the vet in his bedroom, Masson refused to give up his car keys because “he’s a military man,” Girion said, according to CBS News Sacramento.

The robbers then allegedly gave the elderly man a brutal beating and then left the scene with cash, jewelry and prescription drugs after ransacking the place.

John Masson, a former Air Force mechanic, lived quietly in the home for about 50 years. Masson’s wife passed away about 10 years ago.

“His face was all broken — jaw, cheek, head — everything was broken,” Girion added. “Even if he survives, he’s not going to have a quality life.”

“Sacramento County sheriff’s spokeswoman Sgt. Lisa Bowman said the sheriff’s report reflected the stepdaughter’s account,” The Sacramento Bee reported. “Investigators had little to go on in terms of a description of the intruders because the home was dark, and the victim and witness were unable to get a good look at the intruders, she said.”

The veteran “was leading an active life, even taking care of his stepdaughter… who was paralyzed in an accident three years ago. Girion said helping others came naturally to her father after a lifetime of service,” the ABC News Sacramento affiliate reported.

Detectives are now investigating the case as a murder. As alluded to above, no suspects have as yet been identified because the house was dark at the time of the home invasion. The family has offered a reward for any information leading to an arrest.

“Please help us to catch the people, people who did that to my father,” Giron said.

Last month, as the Inquisitr reported, two teenage illegal immigrants from Guatemala allegedly carjacked a 91-year-old U.S. Navy veteran who was shopping at Walmart in Illinois. The suspects were later apprehended in Iowa. Fortunately the veteran was uninjured in the incident.

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