James Shepard/Credit: Buchanan County Sheriff's Office

 

(KAIR)--A 77-year-old man is in critical condition following an assault Monday morning in St. Joseph, Missouri.

According to the St. Joseph Police Department, officers responded around 6 a.m. to the area of 38-hundred North Belt Highway for a reported assault.

Police say the victim was walking in the area when he was attacked. He was taken to Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph for treatment.

A suspect was taken into custody at the scene and identified as 50-year-old James Shepard of St. Joseph.

Shepard has been charged with first-degree assault of a special victim.

Police say the investigation is ongoing.