HOUSTON – A suspect has confessed to beating a homeless man who died after being set on fire.
Jaquan Ondray Bogany, 27, has been charged with murder.
Houston police said Joseph Eugene Brooks, 60, was attacked in the 6200 block of North Wayside on Sept. 6.
"He couldn't defend himself," said Elizabeth Roaches, a family friend of Brooks. "He didn't bother anybody."
Detectives said Bogany called 911 and said he found Brooks on fire in a parking lot.
Brooks had broken facial bones and had suffered third-degree burns over more than half of his body, investigators said. He was taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital, where he died on Sept. 13.
Police said Bogany later called them and said he wanted to set the record straight. He confessed to attacking Brooks and was arrested on Saturday, detectives said.
Investigators said Bogany went to the parking lot with the intent to assault Brooks and set him on fire. Detectives said Bogany claims that a second man actually set the fire.
The motive for the killing has not been released.