SAN DIEGO (CNS) - An Encanto man was behind bars Monday on suspicion of fatally beating his employer, a prominent architect, during a fight at the victim's Bankers Hill home.
Higinio Soriano Salgado, 31, allegedly inflicted mortal injuries on 56-year-old Graham Downes about 1 a.m. Friday during a house party in the 200 block of West Juniper Street, according to San Diego police.
Patrol officers responding to a reported disturbance found the two men on the ground in front of the architect's residence. Downes was unconscious with severe facial and head injuries.
Salgado, a property manager for the victim's company, was questioned and then booked into county jail.
Medics took Downes to Scripps Mercy Hospital, where he was admitted in critical condition. He succumbed to his injuries late Sunday morning.
His publicist, Danielle Gano, released a statement saying Downes' family and friends had known him as "an exciting and adventurous man who did no less than devour life."
"There were no half-measures in his world, and those who knew him socially surely have a memorable story to tell in which he is invariably at the center, but his heart's passion was with the design practice he toiled so hard to create and grow, Graham Downes Architecture," Gano said.
The firm is well-known for its work at several local hotels and restaurants, including Tom Ham's Lighthouse, the Bali Hai, Hotel La Jolla and the Hard Rock Hotel.
Salgado was being held without bail pending arraignment, scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.
THIS IS A STORY UPDATE. For an earlier version, read below.
SAN DIEGO (CNS) - A San Diego architect known for his many urban projects died in a hospital over the weekend after he was beaten, allegedly by a 31-year-old employee, who was jailed Monday.
Graham Downes, 56, died Sunday from injuries he suffered Friday in a fight at his Bankers Hill home, Downes' publicist, Danielle Gano, told U-T San Diego.
"To his family and friends, Downes was known as an exciting and adventurous man who did no less than devour life," Gano said in a statement.
"There were no half-measures in his world and those who knew him socially surely have a memorable story to tell in which he is invariably at the center, but his heart's passion was with the design practice he toiled so hard to create and grow, Graham Downes Architecture."
Officers were called to Downes' residence in the 200 block of West Juniper Street near Front Street about 1:10 a.m. Friday and found the two men on the ground on the south side of the street, according to San Diego police.
The victim was unconscious, with severe facial and head injuries, police said. He was taken to a hospital in critical condition.
Officers took the other man to police headquarters, police said. He was later booked into jail.
Police did not initially release the suspect's name, but U-T San Diego identified him as Higinio Salgado, 31, an employee.
Graham Downes Architecture is known for its work at several local hotels and restaurants, including Tom Ham's Lighthouse, the Bali Hai, Hotel La Jolla and the Hard Rock Hotel.