A fight over money in North Park led to the beating of a man so brutal that he is not expected to survive his injuries, the San Diego Police Department confirmed.
According to SDPD homicide detectives, officers were called to the 3800 block of Pershing Avenue around 5:45 a.m. Saturday to investigate a reported disturbance.
There, officers found a 38-year-old man unconscious and not breathing. He had been violently beaten and had suffered significant blunt force trauma to his upper torso.
The victim was taken to a local hospital but, because of his severe injuries, he was not expected to survive, police said.
Ric Palomar, 26, and Rocky Parillo, 23, were arrested and will be charged with attempted murder, police announced Sunday.
Homicide detectives believe the men and the victim were involved in some sort of dispute over money. Things escalated, leading to a physical fight.
The incident is under investigation. Detectives remained on scene Saturday collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses. A portion of Pershing Avenue remained closed for several hours amid their investigation.
Local
Resident Allan Ramirez was sleeping Saturday morning when he heard yelling outside his home.
“It was just screams -- like a fight,” he recalled.
When he looked out of his window, Ramirez said he saw a man lying on a sidewalk surrounded by police and paramedics.
Ramirez said the violence in the neighborhood is disconcerting, especially because he has two kids. Fortunately, he said, his children are away on vacation and didn't hear or witness the beating.
“This neighborhood is pretty quiet. In the last year I’ve seen a little more things going on around here – I don’t know what the reason is. But it used to be really quiet, like a family neighborhood," he said. "It worries me.”
The victim’s name has not yet been released, as officials are still in the process of notifying the man’s family.
Anyone with information on this case should contact the SDPD Homicide Unit at (619) 531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
