81-year-old from Germany assaulted while visiting Michigan

DETROIT – A 81-year-old from Germany was assaulted over the weekend while visiting Michigan, officials announced.

Around 10:14 a.m. Saturday, Dieter Kirschmust, 81, of Bremen, Germany, was attacked while downtown Detroit, according to a news release from the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office.

Detroit Police officers responded to a building in the 1000 block of Woodward Avenue. Upon arrival, they found the victim on the ground, suffering from a head injury. Medics transported the victim to a local hospital for treatment.

Lawrence Deonte Gilchrist, 30, of Detroit, is accused in the assault. He allegedly approached the victim and hit him, causing him to fall and injure his head.

“A lot of work has gone into making our city a welcoming beacon to all, only to have the alleged horrific actions of this defendant deeply tarnish these efforts,” Worthy said. “But much more importantly, 81-year-old Dieter Kirschmust pay the undeserved price of what the defendant decided to do. This is heartbreaking on so many levels.”

Gilchrist is charged with assault with intent to do great bodily harm and aggravated assault.

He was arraigned today in 36th District Court before Magistrate Jeffrey Kleparek and given a $50,000 cash/surety bond with a GPS tether. A bond re-determination hearing is scheduled for Thursday before Judge William McConico.