UPDATE:
Fairman died after being brutally attacked in a shopping center parking lot on Sept. 11, 2018.
"We were devastated, it was like losing a family member and I couldn't look out my back door because I look right at his," said Margie Lee, who lives in Fairman's community.
Police have charged Daniel Michael Harrigan of Riviera Beach, 50, in Fairman's death.
Fairman was walking out of the Stein Mart off U.S. 1 at 8 p.m. when police say he was robbed in the parking lot and brutally beaten. Fairman suffered a broken his jaw, nose and damaged his eye socket.
During the attack, police say Harrigan also knocked Fairman to the ground, which caused him to strike the back of his head on the pavement. Fairman never regained consciousness and died six days later.
"I was just angry...picking on an elderly person like that...it's a shame," said Robert Parish, who has been friends with Fairman for nearly 10 years and attended his memorial service this past weekend.
"He was a really mild-mannered guy, very pleasant. He struck me as somebody who had a really good soul."
During the attack, Harrigan also struggled with a second victim, a 69-year-old woman. Harrigan threw her to the ground and robbed her of her purse.
Police say a third victim, a 67-year-old man, attempted to intercede and was struck in the head by Harrigan, who then fled on foot with the purse.
Police say another citizen followed Harrigan and snatched the purse away from him, but was unable to apprehend him.
Palm Beach Gardens Police Chief Clint Shannon called the attack senseless and unprovoked, and said it stemmed from a failed robbery attempt.
Harrigan was arrested on Tuesday in Riviera Beach. He is charged with first-degree murder, robbery and aggravated battery of a person over the age of 65. Harrigan has over 25 arrests dating back to 1985, and he has also been in and out of state prison multiple times. He is being held without bond
"We're glad that another person who doesn't value life is off the street," Lee said.
EARLIER STORY:
Palm Beach Gardens police have arrested a suspect in connection with the homicide of 77-year-old Bernard Fairman of Jupiter.
Fairman died after being brutally attacked in a shopping center parking lot on Sept. 11, 2018.
Fairman was walking out of the Stein Mart off U.S. 1 at 8 p.m. when police say he was robbed in the parking lot and brutally beaten.
Police have charged Daniel Michael Harrigan of Riviera Beach, 49, in Fairman's death.
During the attack, police say Harrigan knocked Fairman to the ground, causing him to strike the back of his head on the pavement. Fairman never regained consciousness.
Harrigan then struggled with a second victim, a 69-year-old woman. Harrigan threw her to the ground and robbed her of her purse.
Police say a third victim, a 67-year-old man, attempted to intercede and was struck in the of the head by Harrigan, who then fled on foot with the purse.
Police say another citizen followed Harrigan and snatched the purse away from him, but was unable to apprehend him.
Harrigan was arrested on Tuesday in Riviera Beach.
Harrigan is charged with first-degree murder, robbery and aggravated battery of a person over the age of 65. Harrigan has over 25 arrests dating back to 1985. He is being held without bond.
