Employee Arrested for Fatally Beating Boss

San Diego police have arrested 31 year-old Higinio Soriano Salgado from Encanto for the murder of 56 year-old Graham Downes. The incident occurred at a house party Downes was holding at his Bankers Hill home. Around 1 a.m, neighbors called 911 when they heard two men screaming.

Higinio Soriano Salgado

When officers responded to the scene, they found Salgado and Downes on the ground in front of the architect’s home in the 200 block of West Juniper Street. Downes was unconscious with severe head and facial injuries.

Downes was admitted into Scripps Mercy Hospital in critical condition, where he later passed away late Sunday morning from his injuries.

Graham Downes

Initially, police charged Salgado with attempted murder, since Downes had not been declared legally dead. Police changed the charge to murder after Downe’s passing.

Salgado is currently being held on $3 million bail. He is considered to be a flight risk because of his ties to Mexico and a house he is currently building there.

Salgado was a property manager for Downes at his acclaimed San Diego architectural firm, Graham Downes Architecture.

Police now believe the two men were fighting, but are still unclear as to what motivated the assault. During the fight, Salgado is said to have fractured Downe’s skull in several places

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