A man faces first degree murder charges for running down his brother in a hit-and-run crash Sunday night according to investigators.
Joaquin Perez-Ruiz, 44, was walking along the sidewalk on Villa Cardiff Drive in Encinitas when he was hit by a vehicle.
His brother, 37-year-old Camilo Perez-Ruiz, has been accused of intentionally running down his brother and then leaving the scene, according to the San Diego County Sheriff's Homicide Unit.
Investigators said the two brothers got into an argument earlier that evening at a friend’s house.
Joaquin left the house on foot. His brother followed him with his truck, drove onto the sidewalk and intentionally struck him, investigators said.
Camilo drove away from the scene on Windsor Road and Villa Cardiff Drive, but returned later on foot. He called 911 to report the injury and fled again.
Deputies found Joaquin at about 11:30 p.m. and called medics for help. He was pronounced dead on the scene shortly after.
Camilo was arrested at his home Wednesday.
According to a neighbor, deputies showed up at Camilo’s house, took him into custody and towed away his red truck, which had visible damage to the front end.
Another neighbor, Michelle Urlacher, told NBC 7 San Diego that Camilo is married with young children.
“I just see them playing with their kids; they've been really nice,” said Urlacher.
Camilo was booked into the Vista Detention Facility. He now faces a first-degree murder charge and is scheduled to appear in court Friday.
Meanwhile, Joaquin’s family members have put up a makeshift memorial at the site of the hit and run crash.
“[Joaquin was a hard working guy. Every day he was working for his family. He has a big family with seven kids and a wife, living in Oaxaca, “said Joaquin’s niece Silvia Perez.
Family members, including Silvia, are trying to make sense of how something like this could happen between brothers.
"It's hard because you don't know why it happened,” she said.
Right now, all the family knows is that the deadly incident has torn their family apart.
"[Camilo] says it was an accident, but why didn't he take care of him?" said Silvia.
