by Anita Baffoni, WPRO News
A University of Rhode Island employee, identified as 34 year old Christian Lepore of Richmond, is responsible for allegedly beating a West Greenwich man to death over Memorial Day weekend, according to State Police.
Superintendent Colonel Steven O’Donnell says Lepore may have been on a mind altering substance when he murdered 63-year-old John O’Neil at his home. It’s believed to be a random attack and there is no relation between the victim and suspect.
Lepore, who is a cook at the nearby URI Alton Jones campus, was asked to leave work for a minor altercation with another person then walked through the woods to the victim’s home, roughly a quarter mile walk.
O’Neil made the 911 call for a suspicious person in his yard and the line remained open, according to O’Donnell.
“It’s horrific to listen too,” says Colonel O’Donnell. “As a career cop, it’s pretty difficult to listen to something like that.”
Police found Lepore standing over O’Neils body with blood seen on his clothes. There was a violent struggle with multiple officers and a K-9 unit, but after being tased several times, police were able to take Lepore into custody.
He was arraigned in the hospital on Tuesday on charges of murder, assault on a person over the age of 60, three counts of assault on a police officer, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.
Lepore was ordered held without bail with a hearing on June 13.
O’Neil lived in West Greenwich for over 30 years, worked as a carpenter and leaves behind a wife.
