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Victim of Polson Hammer Assault Dies

By Beacon Staff

POLSON – A Polson man who was struck in the head with a hammer nearly two weeks ago has died of his injuries.

Lake County Undersheriff Dan Yonkin tells KERR-AM that 67-year-old John Barrows of Polson died at a Kalispell hospital on Saturday.

The suspected assailant, 35-year-old Desmond Alan Mackay, is scheduled to be arraigned in District Court on Thursday on charges of attempted deliberate homicide and two counts of assault with a weapon for the March 5 attack. Prosecutors have said they would amend the charges if Barrows died.

Court records say Mackay called the name of another man, Jesse Waugh, and waited by the door to his garage. When it opened, Mackay swung the hammer, which struck Barrows in the head. Prosecutors say Mackay told investigators he hated Waugh and intended to hit him.