Authorities in Pittsburgh said a 26-year-old suspect “viciously assaulted” a newly-married man celebrating a honeymoon with his wife, leaving the victim in critical condition. According to Channel 11, the Monday incident occurred at a hotel Larry Gilmore and his wife Shalawrae were celebrating their honeymoon.
The couple tied the knot the day before the newly-married man was assaulted at the Even Hotel along Forbes Avenue. Officers arrived at the hotel on Monday night after they were notified about a fight. Gilmore was said to be found unresponsive on the ground with his pants removed and blood oozing out of his head.
In the wake of the incident, the victim’s wife said she “walked over to see what was going on” and found her husband “in a puddle of blood.” Court documents stated that surveillance footage officers accessed showed Heiko Calhoun coming from Gilmore’s back and viciously attacking him while the newly-married man was alone at the elevator. Calhoun is said to have placed Gilmore in a chokehold before hitting the victim’s head against the floor.
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“He just came in behind him actually snuck behind him and choked him out,” said Shalawrae. While Gilmore lay unresponsive, police said Calhoun came back to repeatedly assault the victim and take his pants as well as other items.
The complaint stated that Calhoun told officers he placed Gilmore in a chokehold and assaulted him after the victim passed by him at the hotel lobby and uttered something provocative to him, Channel 11 reported.
The suspect, who was later located and arrested, faces a slew of charges including criminal attempted homicide, aggravated assault, robbery, and reckless endangerment. Calhoun also faces separate charges of public drunkenness and a parole violation for unavailability of an address following a prison stint in Greene County.
Court documents stated that Gilmore suffered a head injury and was intubated after he was taken to a hospital, adding that his condition was listed as critical. The victim’s family on Tuesday demanded tighter security at the hotel during a protest on its premises.
“We want it shut down until they can ensure their customer safety because my husband is right now fighting for his life,” Shalawrae said. Responding to the incident in a statement, the hotel said the “safety of our guests and hotel staff is always our highest priority.”
“The doors to the building are locked from 8pm to 8am and only accessible during those hours with a guest key. This includes access to the hotel lobby on the 5th floor,” the hotel added.
A GoFundMe has since been set up to help raise funds for Gilmore’s medical and other expenses.
