A 66-year-old man has died after his family removed life support measures following a restaurant parking lot assault involving a cane.
Jesse Whistler died at 5:14 p.m. on Dec. 5, according to Columbus police.
Jesse Whistler suffered a serious head injury after being assaulted in the parking lot of the Applebee’s restaurant located at 2755 Brice Road on the Southeast Side.
Columbus police said the assault happened around 12:15 p.m. on Dec. 1. Franklin County Municipal Court records show Ja’Quawn Bridgmon, 27, assaulted Jesse Whistler and his wife, Cheryl Whistler, in the restaurant’s parking lot.
An investigation determined Bridgmon used a cane to attack the two, according to court records. Cheryl Whistler got the license plate of the suspect, which police were able to tie to Bridgmon, court records show.
Police used FLOCK traffic cameras to see Bridgmon’s vehicle in the area of the restaurant at the time of the assault, according to court records. Police were able to pull Bridgmon over and question him. He allegedly admitted to being involved in the assault, court records show.
Jesse Whistler was rushed to an area hospital where he underwent emergency surgery but his condition deteriorated.
During a Dec. 5 hearing in Franklin County Municipal Court, a statement from Cheryl Whistler was read to Judge Eileen Paley. In the statement, Cheryl Whistler said Bridgmon had turned his vehicle around to confront she and her husband, getting out and approaching them.
Cheryl Whistler’s statement said Bridgmon said he would “teach an old man a lesson” before slapping her in the face and hitting her with a cane. Jesse Whistler was backing away when Bridgmon shoved him, causing him to fall and hit his head on the pavement, Cheryl Whistler’s statement said.
Jesse Whistler was a father of five, grandfather of 13 and great-grandfather of seven, according to his family.
Judge Eileen Paley set Bridgmon’s bond at $1 million during the Dec. 5 hearing. She said she was a “little disturbed” by the facts of the case during the hearing. Additional charges against Bridgmon are expected to be filed in light of Jesse Whistler’s death.
Reporter Bethany Bruner can be reached at bbruner@dispatch.com or on Bluesky at @bethanybruner.dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Grandfather dies days after restaurant parking lot cane attack
Reporting by Bethany Bruner, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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