Fatal Brooklyn Nursing Home Fight Was Over Pair Of Pants: Source

CROWN HEIGHTS, BROOKLYN — A fatal fight at a Crown Heights nursing home that was deemed a homicide this week was over a pair of pants, according to police and sources with knowledge of what happened.

Eitel Vargas, a resident at Crown Heights Center for Nursing, died in the hospital in August a few days after his roommate at the Saint Marks Avenue nursing home punched him in the head during a tug-of-war over a pair of pants, sources told Patch.

Nursing home staff came in and broke up the fight when they heard a commotion in the room, but noticed an hour or so later that Vargas' head was still swelling badly. The staff called 911, Vargas was rushed to the hospital and he died three days later, the source said.

Police announced Friday that the Medical Examiner has since deemed the 74-year-old's death a homicide.

The nursing home has been cooperating with authorities in the months since reporting the incident the day it happened, their attorney Richard Brum said.

"This is obviously a tragic event in which one of our residents ultimately passed away, and we have extended our deepest sympathies to the family," Brum said in a statement. "The health, safety and wellbeing of our residents continues to be our highest priority, and we are confident that our staff handled the matter in accordance with regulations and our standards."

Crown Heights Center for Nursing also notified the state's Department of Health the day of the incident, as it is required to do, sources said. The department looked into the incident and didn't issue any citations about how it was handled, they added.

Police said Friday that there have been no arrests in the case and that the investigation is ongoing.