San Diego police are investigating the suspicious death of a young man who they believe was involved in a violent confrontation in downtown's Gaslamp District.
They believe the altercation happened in the early morning hours of March 5 at a business on 400 E Street. On March 9, police received a call from a local hospital reporting a patient who had suffered from possible blunt force trauma and was in serious condition.
On Thursday, March 10 -- the day of the man's 21st birthday, according to his family -- he died.
On social media, loved ones identified the young man as Conner Kepple, and expressed their grief.
His mother wrote a public post that read, in part, “Conner Kepple was enjoying time with his friends downtown when he became a victim of violence. After three ER visits and four surgeries; our sweet Conner lost his brave battle. He went to heaven on his 21st birthday. There is nothing his friends could have done to prevent this tragic and heart wrenching outcome.”
Police are now creating a timeline to figure out how the young man died, and if anyone had a hand in it. Investigators say he visited several businesses in downtown San Diego on March 5, and they’re questioning multiple employees across those establishments, but say it's too early in the investigation to release the names of those businesses.
According to the victm's relatives, one of the businesses he visited was Bassmnt Club on E Street.
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“Super tragic what happened, it’s our position that based on our contact and all of the footage obtained, he came to Bassmnt healthy and left Bassmnt healthy,” said general manager John Choi.
Choi said Kepple was coherent and appeared uninjured when their security officers had contact with him around midnight and again at 3:30 a.m.
Police confirm there was some type of "scuffle" at the business, but say it was a "non-issue."
Police are concentrating their efforts on a possible fight involving Kepple on E Street, which is a different location.
Kepple’s former employers at MaxCare ambulance confirm he worked for the company as an EMT. Kepple was also a son and brother.
