SEATTLE (TCN) — A 23-year-old man has been charged with attempted first-degree murder following an investigation into an alleged hammer attack in May that left the victim with severe head and face injuries.
According to court documents obtained by KOMO, Bey Mateen Muhammad allegedly approached George Miller outside a hotel shortly after midnight on May 4. He allegedly took a hammer from his backpack and struck Miller in the head approximately 30 times before fleeing the area.
Hotel employees called 911 after finding Miller. An officer who responded to the hospital said of Miller, “These were among the most severe facial and head injuries I had observed during the entirety of my police career.”
Miller was in a coma for over two weeks and was in a critical care unit for two months after that. According to his father, Miller receives around-the-clock care at a rehabilitation facility, per KOMO. Miller told authorities he did not know his attacker, KING reports.
At the time he was attacked, Miller was homeless and in active addiction, according to Lisa Driscoll, his mother, KIRO reports.
Surveillance footage from the hotel and surrounding area helped detectives gather a description of the suspect, according to KOMO.
During the police investigation, Muhammed was arrested and charged after he allegedly attempted to break into an apartment with a hammer. He was allegedly wearing the same backpack he had on in the surveillance footage the night of the attack on Miller. According to KOMO, Muhammad allegedly stabbed a person in the back and then punched another person on July 23. He was charged with first- and fourth-degree assault in connection with those alleged attacks and jailed on $500,000 bond.
When detectives executed a search warrant at Muhammad’s apartment, they allegedly found clothing from the May 4 security footage as well as a similar hammer.
KOMO reports that following the investigation by the Seattle police, the case was referred to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office on Aug. 31. Bey Mateen Muhammad was charged with attempted first-degree murder on Sept. 3, according to the outlet. Prosecutors asked for bail to be set at $2 million.
KIRO reports Muhammad’s arraignment is scheduled for Sept. 9.
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