Phoenix police: Fight between hospital patients over radio noise turns deadly

PHOENIX (FOX 10/AP) -- Phoenix police say a 58-year-old resident of a state treatment facility for sex offenders is accused of killing another resident over the victim's radio being too loud.

According to Sgt. Tommy Thompson, the suspect, 58-year-old Robert Wayne Fleming, was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of second-degree murder.

The incident happened at around 7:30 a.m. when Fleming and the victim, 83-year-old Donald Fay Prather, got into a fight in the hallway over Prather's radio being too loud. Prather and Fleming's rooms are next to each other. Fleming struck Prather several times, police say, and Prather fell to the ground unconscious, with his head striking the floor. Fleming then struck Prather again, numerous times.

Prather, according to police, was taken to an area hospital, where he later died. Fleming, meanwhile, has been booked into the Maricopa County Jail.

The center provides treatment and housing for individuals who have committed sexually violent offenses, completed their prison sentences and are deemed unsafe to be released to the community because they are deemed to be sexually violent and highly likely to re-offend.