Honeymooner fights for his life after being beaten and robbed in hotel lobby by homeless man who violated his parole
A Pennsylvania man fights for his life in the hospital after being attacked by a homeless man at his hotel on his honeymoon.
Larry Gilmore and his new wife Shalawrae were married on July 23 and traveled to Pittsburgh for their honeymoon.
The day after the wedding, Gilmore was waiting for the elevator in the lobby of the Even Hotel when he was allegedly attacked from behind by a homeless man, Heiko Calhoun.
Calhoun, 26, can be seen on video approaching Gilmore, putting him in a chokehold and dragging him to the ground, banging his head off the ground repeatedly.
Local media reported that Calhoun had violated his parole. His past offenses are unspecified.
Shalawrae and Larry Gilmore, of McKeesport, Pennsylvania, are photographed on their wedding day, July 23
The couple have three children and Shalawrae is six months pregnant with their fourth
The couple is seen walking down the aisle after their wedding ceremony
While Gilmore lay motionless, Calhoun, a New Jersey native, returned several times to kick and stomp his face and back, according to the indictment.
He then stole from Gilmore’s pockets and his pants.
“I walked over to see what was going on and found him in a pool of blood,” said six-month-pregnant Shalawrae, a mother of three, whose fourth child is due in December.
Gilmore was taken to UPMC Mercy Hospital where he is in critical condition with head injuries.
“At the moment, his condition is still critical but stable. He is still intubated and we hope he comes through,” she said.
Shalawrae, a nursing home assistant from McKeesport, a Pittsburgh suburb, wrote on a GoFundMe, “He is currently battling for his life in ICU with severe trauma to his body.”
Calhoun was arrested shortly after the attack and told police that Gilmore said something to him before the incident.
Heiko Calhoun, 26, was arrested shortly after the attack and has been charged with attempted murder
Shalawrae and Larry Gilmore are photographed shortly before their wedding
A tearful Shalawrae Gilmore told CBS News that she had been unable to sleep since the attack
Relatives of the Gilmores protest outside the Even Hotel, demanding that it be closed pending a safety review
He is being held in the Allegheny County Jail on charges of attempted manslaughter, aggravated assault, robbery and reckless endangerment of another person.
The Gilmore family has protested outside the Even Hotel, demanding it close for a safety review.
The hotel, where rooms cost about $80 during the week, charges $400 on weekends.
“We want it closed until they can ensure the safety of their customers because my husband is now fighting for his life,” she said. CBS news.
“I didn’t eat, I didn’t sleep.
“This is taking a heavy toll on me.”
The hotel said the doors on the ground floor are locked from 8pm to 8am every day and can only be accessed with a guest key.
“Our thoughts are with this guest and their family at this difficult time,” the hotel said in a statement.
“We appreciate the prompt actions of our hotel staff, the Pittsburgh Police Department and local EMTs who assisted our guest. We will continue to cooperate with local authorities in their investigation and any additional questions regarding this matter can be directed to the Pittsburgh Police Department.”