Fatal Fight: Man Arrested On Suspicion Of Murder In East County

LEMON GROVE, CA — A man was arrested Monday in connection with a deadly fight in eastern San Diego County, authorities said.

Ernest Kelly, 32, and a 51-year-old man got into a fight around 2 a.m. in an apartment in the 3700 block of Grove Street in Lemon Grove, according to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department. Deputies found the unnamed man in "medical distress," and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Shortly before 5 p.m., Kelly was arrested and booked into the San Diego Central Jail on suspicion of murder.

"It was determined Kelly was involved in a physical altercation with the victim causing his death," sheriff's Lt. Chris Steffen said. "The fight started over a verbal argument. The details of the argument are still unclear."

Kelly and the victim lived in the complex and were acquaintances, Steffen said. The victim's name was withheld pending family notification.

Anyone with information about the case was asked to call the department's Homicide Unit at 858-285-6330, after hours at 858-565-5200 or San Diego County Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.