LA nurse, 70, dies three days after she was punched in the head by homeless man near Union station

An elderly nurse who was badly injured after being attacked at a Los Angeles transit bus stop has died of her injuries at a hospital where she worked for 38 years, her employer announced on Sunday.  

Sandra Shells, 70, was attacked by a homeless man at about 5.15 a.m. on Thursday near Vignes Street and Cesar Chavez Avenue, half a mile away from Union Station, while she was waiting to catch a bus to her job at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. 

Tragically, she succumbed to her injuries at the same medical facility on Sunday.  

Later that same day, police arrested Kerry Bell, a 48-year-old homeless man who was found sleeping not far away from the bus station.

Bell allegedly punched Shells in the head, leading the nurse to hit her head on the ground, likely striking it against the concrete. As a result of her fall, Shell suffered a fractured skull. 

Bell was arrested without incident on suspicion of assault, but his charge will be updated to suspicion of murder, according to police.

No motive for the unprovoked attack has been revealed. Bell is being held on $2million bail, according to jail records. 

Sandra Shells, 70, died three days after sustaining a fractured skull in a random attack near Union Station, the Los Angeles Police Department said in a news release

Shells was a nurse at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center for nearly 40 years when she passed away on Sunday

Shells was a nurse at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center for nearly 40 years when she passed away on Sunday

Bell has one prior arrest in Los Angeles, but multiple prior arrests in several other states, according to the LAPD.  

Los Angeles Police Department Chief Michel Moore shared on Twitter that Shells’ death was ‘a tragic and senseless murder directly tied to the failure of this Nation’s mental health resources. We can and must do better. This victim lived her life for others. We are falling short.’ 

‘We are deeply saddened by this news,’ officials with LA County-USC Medical Center said in a statement. ‘Sandra Shells will forever be remembered for her compassionate care and unmatched dedication to her patients and her community throughout her 38-year career at LAC+USC.’ 

‘Sandra worked tirelessly and selflessly to keep her patients safe and healthy and will always be remembered as a kind, compassionate and giving nurse with a helpful and thoughtful nature who was a favorite amongst colleagues and patients.

‘There will never be enough words to express our gratitude for her tremendous work and dedication,’ the statement added.

The random attack occurred 0.5 miles away from Union Station, where Shells regularly took the bus to get to work

The random attack occurred 0.5 miles away from Union Station, where Shells regularly took the bus to get to work

LA crime is on the upswing, according to police statistics. Shooting victims have increased 10.6 percent year-to-year and 53 percent from the same point in 2019

LA crime is on the upswing, according to police statistics. Shooting victims have increased 10.6 percent year-to-year and 53 percent from the same point in 2019

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger has called for a full investigation into the attack, arguing that essential workers who are already working in tough conditions during the pandemic deserve a ‘more safe and stable environments.’

‘Learning of this attack is both shocking and heartbreaking,” Barger said in a statement. ‘I’m asking for a full investigation into what caused the attack and any information that can be used to prevent this from happening again. 

‘It is unacceptable for Metro bus riders to be susceptible to this type of violence. Our essential workers, such as this county nurse, often take public transportation at unconventional times and can become easy prey for violent actors,’ Barger said. Los Angeles, like many cities across the country, has witnessed an alarming rise in violent crime over the past two years. 

Homicides in the City of Angeles rose 52 percent last year from 2019, and shooting incidents were up 59 percent, according to LAPD data.    

The city has also suffered a shocking wave of follow-home robberies and organized smash-and-grab attacks on retailers.

Jacqueline Avant, the 81 year-old wife of famed music producer Clarence Avant, became the most high-profile robbery victim when she was shot and killed at her $2.7 million Beverly Hills mansion in December. 

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