80-Year-Old Military Veteran Is Brutally Beaten to Death by Former Teacher in Parking Dispute: Police

Mar. 15, 2025

Earl Hollins.Photo:Facebook

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A former teacher in Texas is facing a murder charge after he allegedly beat an elderly military veteran to death over a parking spot dispute.

Earl Hollins, 80, “suffered a severe head injury” during the altercation outside a grocery store in Houston on Friday, Dec. 6,Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalezsaid in a statement at the time.

On Sunday, Gonzalezannouncedthey had identified 57-year-old Anthony Ray Boyce as the suspect in Hollins’ attack.

Hollins’ family toldABC 13that they took off his life support on Saturday.

Anthony Boyce.Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez/X

Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez/X

While police initially thought the altercation was a robbery gone wrong, Gonzalez later said in a statement that Boyce and Hollins knew each other.

The nature of their relationship was not immediately clear.

His niece Elma Hollins-Washington told ABC 13 that he was a direct, honest person and was “one of a kind.”

“I mean, to know him, you have to love him,” she told the outlet.

Hollins' son toldKHOU 11that he was a single father who was always laughing and joking around.

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Boyce is a former teacher with a school district in Cypress, Texas, perClick 2 Houston. He was a substitute teacher, the school district confirmed to the outlet. The district did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s requests for further information.

source: people.com