Stamford Man And Teen Charged In Death Of 20-Year-Old: Police

STAMFORD, CT — The Stamford Police Department announced Monday morning it has made two arrests in connection with the death of 20-year-old Modesto Santiago-Gomez, who was found dead in the early morning hours of Oct. 18 in the South End of Stamford.

Juan Carlos Perez-Perez, 25, of Stamford, and a 17-year-old boy whose name will not be released, were arrested on Oct. 21 and charged with first-degree assault, police said in a news release.

Perez-Perez is being held on a $1 million bond. The teen has been remanded to the custody of state juvenile detention.

Police said more charges are anticipated at a later date. An investigation remains ongoing, police noted, and authorities are continuing to work with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of CT and the State's Attorney's Office.

"The department would like to commend those officers and investigators that were involved in this case for their efforts and to also thank the South End residents and business community for their cooperation which enabled the investigators to quickly advance this investigation," police said in a news release. "The department is in communication with Santiago-Gomez’s family in Guatemala and we extend our condolences on his tragic death."

Shortly after 2 a.m., on Oct. 18, police received a 911 call from a person who reported a man, later identified as Santiago-Gomez, laying on his back on the grassy area near the pathway that connects Woodland Avenue and Walter Wheeler Drive, police said.

Stamford fire and EMS personnel responded and pronounced Santiago-Gomez dead at the scene.

Santiago-Gomez was believed to not have a home, police said.