GRESHAM, Ore. - The 15-year-old arrested Saturday night in connection with the random beating of a 71-year-old man with a baseball bat at a Gresham MAX station will be tried as an adult, according to prosecutors.

Abel Antonio Chavez-Garcia faces attempted murder charges in the case. The district attorney in the case said the Measure 11 charges were automatically mandated by state law.

The victim, Laurie Lee Chilcote of Sandy, was taken to Oregon Health and Science University for treatment of extensive head injuries. He was listed in stable condition Monday. Chilcote was reportedly out of intensive care but was suffering from paralysis over one side of his face.

The highly publicized case caused TriMet on Monday to announce it was expanding security on its transit system, including adding more Wackenhut security guards and surveying its property to increase lighting and add surveillance cameras. (Click the link above to read the full statement.)

According to Gresham police, the beating occurred at the Gresham Central MAX Transit Station at Northeast 8th Street and Kelly Avenue about 9:30 p.m.

Police said Chilcote was on the same eastbound MAX train as the 15-year-old, and the attack occurred after both got off at the transit station. They said the teen and his friends taunted the elderly man before the youth pulled out a baseball bat and hit the 71-year-old over the head twice with the bat.

Officers found the Chilcote, pictured below from his hospital bed, lying near the train tracks at the transit center and bleeding from the head.

Police say the attack may have been part of a gang initiation rite. Police call the teenager a known gang member and say gang task force members are investigating.

Police found the 15-year-old suspect within minutes of the attack. A witness identified him as the attacker. 

According to court documents released Monday, Chavez-Garcia told police he was tired of the "old man" talking back at him and he attacked the guy because, "I just had to do what I have to do, that's it."

Chavez-Garcia was lodged in the Donald E. Long Juvenile Detention Home on charges of first-degree assault and attempted murder.

He was also charged with first-degree criminal mischief in connection with graffiti spray painted at a previous MAX stop.

Chavez-Garcia was on probation for theft, criminal mischief and unlawful entry into a vehicle at the time of Saturday's attack. 

The crime happened just one day after Gresham's mayor said that the MAX lines need a stronger police presence.
    
On Wednesday, two officers will begin riding the lines trying to prevent what the Gresham mayor calls persistent crime.