A man booked into the Cumberland County jail Wednesday morning immediately attacked his sleeping cellmate, killing him, the district attorney announced Thursday night.

Police charged Dangelo Nowlin, 33, of Yuba City, California, with criminal homicide in connection with the death of Erick Gainer, 41, who had been sleeping in the top bunk, the DA’s office said.

Nowlin had been arrested and transported to the jail Wednesday morning for defiant trespassing. Nowlin entered his assigned cell around 11:50 a.m. and began to beat Gainer, authorities said.

Gainer was taken to Holy Spirit Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery to treat brain swelling, but the doctors were unable to control the swelling, and he died from his injuries around 6:30 p.m. Thursday, the DA’s office said.

Gainer

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