BOCA RATON POLICE MAKE ARREST IN DEATH INVESTIGATION

Boca Raton Police make arrest in death investigation

Boca Raton, FL – On Monday, October 14, 2019 just after 8:00 a.m., Boca Raton Police received a report of an unconscious male on the ground at the Boca Raton Municipal Cemetery. Officers made contact with the male who appeared to have been assaulted and he was transported to Delray Medical Center.

Boca Raton Police detectives determined the victim was hanging out at his friend’s apartment complex with other acquaintances along the 200 block of SW 7th Street earlier that morning. The group was drinking beer in a rear parking lot. Several witnesses advised Santiago Jaime-Velasquez punched the victim in the face during an altercation, knocking him to the ground. One witness recalled Jaime-Velasquez also kicking the victim in his head while he was lying on the ground unconscious and defenseless. When the victim regained consciousness, he got up and walked away, but lost consciousness again while walking through the cemetery. The victim was admitted to the hospital with a severe brain bleed and was ultimately placed on life support.

Detectives spoke with Jaime-Velasquez who changed his account of what occurred several times. He denied knowing how the victim sustained his injuries and denied hitting him. As a result of the investigation, Santiago Jaime-Velasquez was charged with Aggravated Battery after he intentionally struck the victim in the head causing great bodily harm. He was arrested and transported to the Palm Beach County Jail.

On October 15, 2019, the victim succumbed to his injuries. The Aggravated Battery charge was upgraded to Negligent Manslaughter.