Police ID suspect, victim in Trump-fueled ear-biting attack
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Pittsburgh police have charged a man with biting off his roommate’s ear during an argument about President Donald Trump, and clarified the identity of his victim.
That man, who told reporters his name was Marco Ortiz, was more fully identified Tuesday as 30-year-old Saltiel Ortiz Hernandez.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette first reported that his roommate, 37-year-old Lafiro Bonifacio, was charged with aggravated assault, making terroristic threats and recklessly endangering Hernandez during the incident Jan. 23.
Hernandez told police Bonifacio attacked him after saying he feared being deported to Mexico during an argument about President Trump. Bonifacio was also angry about losing Pennsylvania lottery tickets and began arguing about 6:45 a.m. after a night of drinking.
Police were still trying to find Bonifacio. Hernandez has said his roommate was in the country legally.