HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — A man who was left in critical condition after an attack at a north Harris County store on Friday has died, according to a prosecutor in the case.
It happened in the parking lot of a grocery store off of FM 1960 just west of I-45.
Sheriff Ed Gonzalez initially said the attack happened during a robbery attempt, but according to court documents, it was a dispute over a parking space. According to those court documents, Earl Hollins, 80, was backing into a parking space as Anthony Ray Boyce, 57, was trying to park. The two reportedly began to argue in the middle of the parking lot and Hollins was hit over the head.
Prosecutor Michael Simons said during Boyce's court appearance Monday that surveillance video showed Boyce punch Hollins once in the head during the argument. Boyce fell to the ground and hit his head on the concrete.
Hollins suffered a severe head injury and was taken to a hospital. We learned from prosecutors on Monday that Hollins passed away.
Hollins was a disabled veteran and a father of six, according to his family.
A witness at the scene told KHOU 11 News he didn't feel help was arriving soon enough, so he drove to a nearby volunteer fire department to ask for help.
The report they took states they were notified around 1:30 p.m. that a man was assaulted and bleeding in the parking lot, conscious and alert at the time.
It also states that the department requested "dispatch to step up law enforcement due to the call being held for over an hour with no E.T.A. given."
Hollins' son said his father was in good shape, healthy, a great cook and always joking and laughing. He was the only parent they had left.
Hollins was also known at the grocery store by employees as a friendly man.
Boyce was arrested Friday and charged with aggravated assault- serious bodily injury. Prosecutors said they expect charges to be upgraded, but won't know until the Harris County Sheriff's Office concludes its investigation.
Boyce's bond was initially set at $100,00 and was raised to $200,000.