A deadly encampment fire on a Southcrest/Mountain View sidewalk has left one man dead and another in jail on homicide and arson allegations, after San Diego police say the blaze was deliberately set last Saturday.
Police say the blaze was intentional
San Diego Fire-Rescue crews and police officers were called to a large fire at an encampment near Logan Avenue and South 45th Street around 10:23 PM. First responders found a man suffering from severe burns and rushed him to a local hospital, where he died the following day, according to police.
Investigators with the Metro Arson Strike Team determined the fire had been intentionally set. Witnesses reported seeing a Hispanic man in his 60s walking away just as the flames erupted. In a statement, San Diego police said, “This appears to be a targeted incident,” and noted that additional details are being withheld until the victim’s family is notified, per the San Diego Police Department.
Suspect identified and booked
Homicide detectives later identified 57-year-old Jose Arredondo as the suspect. Officers located him in the 4100 block of Newton Avenue on June 29 and took him into custody.
Arredondo was booked into San Diego County Jail on one count of murder and one count of arson. The arrest was announced in a follow-up release confirming that the SDPD Homicide Unit is leading the case and will be handling the ongoing investigation, according to the San Diego Police Department.
Neighbors describe the scene
Neighbors told reporters the victim appeared to be an elderly Hispanic man and said the flames were intense enough to damage a nearby vehicle. One vehicle owner described being jolted awake by the fire and immediately worrying about an unhoused person who often slept nearby.
Those on-the-ground accounts, along with details about the property damage and initial witness reports, were documented by Fox 5 San Diego, which cited police and KUSI in its coverage.
Investigation continues
SDPD’s Homicide Unit and the Metro Arson Strike Team remain the lead agencies on the case. Detectives are reviewing evidence from the scene and continuing to interview witnesses as they piece together what led up to the deadly fire.
Authorities say there is no known ongoing public safety threat tied to the incident. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Homicide Unit at (619) 531-2293 or to reach out anonymously through Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
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