A retired clerk from North Highlands, Calif., Fusako M. Petrus, 86, was walking with her 61-year-old friend at dawn April 26, 2017, on a North Highlands school track when an 18-year-old man approached the friend, struck her in the face repeatedly, and, after they went to the ground, held her down, groped her, and attempted to rape her. As the woman fended off the man, Petrus approached them, brandishing a large stick. Petrus struck the assailant and told him to leave her friend alone. The assailant shifted his attention to Petrus, beating her to death, while the 61-year-old woman fled the scene to get help. The man was later arrested and is awaiting trial.
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