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El Centro Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a man early Monday morning.

Police responded to a report of a fight in the parking lot of a motel in the 200 block of North Imperial Avenue at about 6:30 a.m. On arrival officers found a man lying on the ground bleeding from injuries to his head and neck. As officers rendered aid to the man they saw another man exit a motel room carrying a metal object and start chasing a witness. The man , identified as 26-year old Santos Velasquez , attempted to run away towards Imperial Avenue. ECPD K-9 Max was deployed and subdued the suspect.

The victim was transported to El Centro Regional Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries. Police are trying to determine a motive for the attack as there is no clear relationship between the suspect and victim other than having neighboring rooms. The Imperial County Coroner's Office is also investigating the incident. The name of the victim has not been released. Velasquez was treated and released for injuries and has been booked into Imperial County Jail