Richard Lawrence Kalfin, the homeless man accused of fatally bludgeoning another man in a Lakewood Walmart store, made his first court appearance on Thursday.
During the brief hearing, Kalfin agreed to postpone his arraignment on a murder charge until November 22.
Bail for Kalfin, 47, was set at $1,080,000.
Kalfin is accused of killing David Oakleaf, 74, inside the Walmart store at 2770 Carson Street in Lakewood on Tuesday. He allegedly used an aluminum baseball bat, that he obtained from the store's sporting goods department.
Store surveillance cameras seem to show the attack was without provocation, investigators said.
"There was no warning whatsoever," said Lt. Eddie Hernandez of the L.A. County Sheriff's Dept.
Oakleaf was pronounced dead at the scene from severe head wounds.
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Prosecutors say Kalfin has been in trouble with the law before. He was convicted of arson in 2005.
It was the second violent incident at the same store during the past year. In August, police subdued a man who brandished two knives at the McDonald's located inside the store.
Oakleaf was a retired worker with the L.A. County Dept. of Child Protective Services. Some of his friends were present for Thursday's hearing. They said he belonged to a motorcycle club, where he was known as "Daytona Dave."
"I'm still in shock," said Jim Geddes. "It was a senseless act of violence. For somebody who loved so many people and helped so many people, I hope that 'Daytona Dave' doesn't just go down as a 74 year old man who passed away at Walmart, because he was well loved."
If convicted, Kalfin could face 57 years to life in prison.
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