A 20-year-old man who repeatedly stomped on a Stockton man’s face and beat him to death with his own walker in 2023 was convicted of first-degree murder, the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office announced on Thursday.
Walter Green, who was 18 at the time of the assault, encountered 59-year-old Loren Faria on April 19, 2023 at the RTD bus station in downtown Stockton. During their encounter, prosecutors said Green had accused Faria of acting inappropriately.
Prosecutors said Green lured Faria to a secluded area and began to beat him, stomping on Faria’s face and striking him about 15 times with his own walker.
According to prosecutors, Green threw away his bloodied clothing in an attempt to hide evidence, but later confessed to the attack and said he believed Faria deserved to die.
An autopsy found that Faria had suffered from extensive blunt force trauma, including multiple skull fractures, facial lacerations, broken ribs, and severe brain injuries. His cause of death was ultimately ruled as blunt force trauma to the head and torso.
“This guilty verdict is a monumental victory for Loren Faria, his family, and every citizen of San Joaquin County who demands safety and accountability,” District Attorney Ron Freitas said. “Walter Green’s vicious, unrepentant attack on a defenseless man shocked the conscience of our community, and I am profoundly grateful to the jury for their ironclad resolve in delivering justice. Their decision stands as a powerful rebuke to such monstrous cruelty.”
Faria had lived at the Filipino Community Building in downtown Stockton. After his death, acquaintances there said he was devoted to church and “would’ve done anything for anyone.”
“During the holidays, he would get little special things for the residents,” said Ela Gallego, a housekeeper at the building.
Green is scheduled to be sentenced at 9 a.m. on April 21 in Department 8D of the San Joaquin County Superior Court.
Record reporter Hannah Workman covers news in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at hworkman@recordnet.com or on Twitter @byhannahworkman. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.
This article originally appeared on The Record: San Joaquin County jury convicts killer who beat Stockton man to death with his own walker
Reporting by Hannah Workman, The Stockton Record / The Record
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