Man held in killing of SoCal Iraq veteran

VICTORVILLE, Calif., Nov. 11 (UPI) -- California detectives say they don't yet know why someone fatally attacked an ex-Marine who served multiple tours in Iraq and survived a knife attack at home.

Trevor Neiman, 25, of Phelan, Calif., was beaten to death with a hammer Monday while he was working as a cable installer at a home in Victorville, east of Los Angeles.

San Bernardino County sheriff's deputies say 45-year-old Johnny Acosta turned himself in and was booked on suspicion of murder.

The Los Angeles Times said Wednesday Acosta had moved into the home a few days earlier and was identified by witnesses as being home at the time of the attack. Investigators said they did not have a motive for the killing.

"He was doing a cable installation. There was no exchange of words. There was nothing that occurred before the unprovoked attack," San Bernardino County sheriff's spokeswoman Jody Miller said.

Neiman served three tours in Iraq with the Marine Corps between 2003 and 2008. Five months ago, he was knifed at a party at his own home and suffered a broken rib and collapsed lung, the Times said.