Homicide detectives are investigating after a man was found dead behind an apartment complex in Hillcrest early Wednesday morning.
At around 12:05 a.m., San Diego police officers responded to reports of a person down behind a small complex in the 3900 block of 1st Avenue.
When officers arrived, they discovered a deceased man in the parking lot. Officials declared the man’s death to be suspicious in nature.
According to detectives, residents of the nearby apartment complex reportedly saw the man drinking alcohol with two other unknown men in an outside patio area at around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Witnesses told police that at one point, the man and one of the men he was drinking with allegedly got into some sort of altercation. After the scuffle, the two men left the area, leaving the third man behind.
Residents told police they thought the man was sleeping off his intoxication in the parking lot. However, when they checked his welfare early Wednesday morning, they discovered he was dead.
Detectives say it is still unknown if the earlier altercation between the men played a role in the victim’s death. The victim has not yet been identified.
An autopsy is scheduled for Thursday to determine the cause and manner of the man’s death. No suspects have been named in the man’s death.
Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego