This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

A 68-year-old West Valley City man remained in critical condition Thursday, the day after he was attacked in his own front yard by a man with a hammer and knife.

However, West Valley City police spokeswoman Roxeanne Vainuku said the victim's vital signs had been stabilized by doctors. He suffered head injuries from multiple blows in the Wednesday afternoon attack near 5600 West and 4835 South.

Detectives had not determined the motive for the 19-year-old suspect's assault.

The assailant, described by witnesses as "behaving strangely" and "making noises like a zombie" while walking down the street. When the older man came out his front door, the suspect allegedly attacked him victim in the yard, and then chased him inside the house to continue the assault.

The suspect then ran from the scene. Police found him in a house three blocks away, where he rented a basement room.

The suspect remained in Salt Lake County jail on Thursday, where he was being held on suspicion of attempted murder and aggravated residential burglary, first-degree felonies; three third-degree felony counts of aggravated assault; and misdemeanor resisting arrest.

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