A 26-year-old transient was charged Friday with the robbery and killing of an 87-year-old Garden Grove man in the victim’s home.
Mario Brancato was charged with murder with special circumstances of murder during a robbery as well as robbery and attempted robbery with a sentencing enhancement for attempted premeditated murder, according to court records. He is accused of killing Chuong Pham.
Officers went to an apartment building in the 9900 block of Central Avenue about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday on a report of a “burglary in progress,” according to Garden Grove police Sgt. Nick Jensen.
The victim’s son came home from work and saw the intruder in his apartment with his father on the floor, Jensen said. No weapons were found at the scene, but it appears the victim was beaten, Jensen said.
“But we don’t know if other objects were used,” Jensen said.
The victim’s son called 911 and, with the help of neighbors, was able to detain the suspect, Jensen said.
The son did not recognize the suspect, and it does not appear Brancato and Pham knew each other, Jensen said.