Man Arrested In Fatal Beating Of Neighbor Who Intervened In Fight

SAN DIEGO, CA — A man was arrested on suspicion of killing a neighbor who police said intervened in a fight near an apartment complex in San Diego's Mt. Hope neighborhood.

Hector Esquivel, 36, was arrested about 3 p.m. Monday on the 300 block of H Street in Chula Vista, according to the San Diego Police Department. He was booked into county jail on suspicion of murder and assault with a deadly weapon.

Police responded shortly before 11 p.m. Sunday to a report of a person down in the 3500 block of Island Avenue. Officers found a 46-year-old man with blunt force injuries to his head. He was taken to a hospital, where he died.

Investigators said the victim had stepped outside after seeing a fight involving his nephew, another apartment resident and two other men. Police said Esquivel, the neighbor, struck the victim in the head at least twice with a blunt object before fleeing in a vehicle.

The department's Homicide Unit was investigating.

Anyone with information was asked to contact the Homicide Unit at 619-531-2315 or San Diego County Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.