Oakland bartender charged in fatal beating of homeless man

Authorities say a bartender at an Oakland restaurant has been charged in the killing of a homeless man outside the business.|
ASSOCIATED PRESS
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS

OAKLAND - Authorities say a bartender at an upscale Oakland restaurant has been charged in the baseball bat killing of a homeless man outside the business.

The East Bay Times reports Thursday that 29-year-old Juan Espino, of Oakland, was charged with murder Wednesday in the killing of 42-year-old Cooky York.

Authorities say York was panhandling aggressively outside Flora, a popular restaurant and bar at Oakland's Uptown neighborhood, when Espino confronted him Sunday afternoon.

Officials say that when York started walking away, Espino got the bat, ran after him and hit him in the back of the head. York later died at a hospital.

Authorities said the two men did not know each other.

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Information from: East Bay Times, http://www.eastbaytimes.com

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