'100 per cent unacceptable': Homicide Squad working tirelessly on Emiliano Lombardi bashing case
The Homicide Squad is working tirelessly to investigate the death of 84-year-old Emiliano Lombardi, who was bashed in an attack the Premier labelled "cowardly, unprovoked and disgusting".
"It was a priority when it occurred, it remains a priority right now," Acting Commissioner Gary Dreibergs told Gareth Parker on 6PR.
Charges may be upgraded against the man accused of the brutal bashing outside Mr Lombardi's East Cannington home, who was arrested by police after a three-day search.
Quade Karsum Jones, 28, allegedly assaulted Mr Lombardi after the elderly man went to investigate a disturbance outside.
Sickening images of the violence inflicted upon Mr Lombardi shocked the community, including Premier Mark McGowan.
"Nobody, especially our elderly and most vulnerable, should have to suffer like this, nor be afraid outside their own home," he said.
Acting Commissioner Dreibergs said assaults were the one crime category that had not dropped significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Any one assault of this nature, it doesn't matter what the crime rate is ... the community expect to have zero assaults of this nature, and its our job when they do occur to investigate it very quickly.
"And I can tell you that's what our officers are very focused on.
"These type of things are 100 per cent unacceptable, and the community of Western Australia is quite rightly outraged, as they should be."