MINDEN - The beating death of a 54-year-old man may have been sparked by revenge after an argument between three girls.
Anthony Gomez, 30; his roommate Jason Waugh, 28; Gomez's stepson Jimmy Holman, 15, and Alexandrew Vail, 15, were charged with open murder in connection with the death of Terrence Howell.
They appeared Wednesday before Justice Jim EnEarl in East Fork Justice Court, where a preliminary hearing was set for July 9.
According to court documents, Howell's 11-year-old daughter had a "verbal dispute" on Sunday with two other girls, including Gomez's 10-year-old daughter.
Howell was accused, according to reports, of having words with Gomez's daughter after the argument.
She reportedly called her father, who drove around the Gardnerville apartment complex at El Dorado Drive and Apollo Avenue and found Howell riding his bicycle to the store.
Deputies were called at 6:25 p.m. by a witness who said four men jumped Howell and were hitting and kicking him.
By the time officers arrived, the combatants had fled the scene.
Howell complained of stomach and shoulder pain and had a large bruise on his arm. He refused medical treatment and drove himself to an emergency center where he was evaluated and sent home.
On Monday, Howell complained of breathing problems and was admitted to the emergency room. He was taken by medical helicopter to Carson Tahoe Regional Healthcare.
According to court documents, he underwent emergency surgery at 5 p.m. He survived the procedure, but died of full arrest at 6:45 p.m.
The defendants were arrested Monday night.
The suspects are being held without bail in Douglas County Jail. Vail and Holman are being treated as adults because of the nature of the charges.