A man accused of attacking another man during an argument in the express checkout line at a Miami Beach grocery store is facing a murder charge after the victim died, police said.
Roger Perry, 53, is facing a second-degree murder charge in addition to battery in the death of Mohammad Hussein, Miami Beach Police said Tuesday.
Perry was being held without bond Tuesday, jail records showed. During an appearance in bond court, his attorney said Perry is bipolar and suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder.
At one point during the hearing, Perry turned and asked someone, "Did that man pass away?"
Police said the incident began with a dispute in the express checkout line at the M&L Market on Collins Avenue on Dec. 1.
Perry backhanded Hussain, who fell backward and hit his head on the ground, fracturing his skull, police said. Police said Hussein was knocked out before he even hit the ground, and when his head hit the ground, it whipped back with such intensity that blood immediately began to pool around where he was lying.
Husain had been in a coma for days before finally dying of his injuries this past Saturday, police said. The medical examiner determined his cause of death to be complications of blunt head injury, police said.
Perry was arrested in Palm Beach County and was taken to the Miami-Dade County Jail on Monday.
As family members gathered Tuesday to prepare for Hussein's funeral, his nephew said Perry deserves harsh punishment.
"I hope he rots away in prison because he just took away a man who's [the] income provider for his family," Rez Chowdy said.
