Hearing continued in Wal-Mart beating

A hearing was continued Friday for two men charged in a beating that left the victim with a severe head trauma.

Gregory Allen Kelly Jr., 19, of Carson City and Kyle Louis Shannon, 18, of South Lake Tahoe, are each being held in the Carson City Jail on suspicion of felony battery causing substantial bodily harm and robbery.

The two men were to appear in Justice Court for a preliminary hearing, but it was continued after defense attorney Ben Walker had to leave town because of a death in the family, according to a stipulation filed in Justice Court on Friday.

Sgt. Bob White said deputies were called to the 3200 block of Market Street at 12:43 a.m. Feb. 21 after someone spotted Michael Hamilton, 27, "face down in blood" on Retail Road. The road, which is under construction, will lead to Wal-Mart from Roop Street.

He was rushed to the hospital where he was placed on a respirator prior to regaining consciousness.

The following day, witnesses to the beating came forward to say they were going to Wal-Mart to pick up Shannon and Kelly when they saw the men beating Hamilton, according to the arrest report.

Doctors told Richard Hamilton that his son, Michael, suffered either oxygen depravation or an injury to his cerebellum from being kicked in the back of the head during the assault.

"It has left him with a speech impediment and not having control of his limbs," he said from his home in San Diego. Hamilton and his youngest son visited Michael at the hospital this past weekend.

"He was just here about a month or two ago and he was in fine physical shape," he said. "It's very difficult to see him in a position of being an invalid and I hope to God it's not for the rest of his life."

Shannon and Kelly are being held on $55,000 bail each.

-- Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.