Photo: Universal Images Group Editorial
SANTA ANA (CNS) - A 27-year-old transient charged with beating another homeless man with an aluminum pipe in Santa Ana last week faces an upgraded charge of murder now that the victim has died of his injuries, police said today.
Jonathan Ceclio Menjivar Lemus was charged Monday with attempted murder with sentencing enhancements for causing great bodily injury and the personal use of a deadly weapon in the beating of 27-year-old Jesus Morales Jimenez about 5 p.m. last Thursday at 828 N. Raitt St., said Santa Ana police Cpl. Sonia Rono.
A witness told police she saw the suspect swinging the pipe up and down as if he were slamming it into the ground, but because her view was obstructed, she couldn't see the victim, Rono said. When she and a companion went to look at what the suspect was doing, they found the victim and called 911, Rono said.
Police arrested Lemus several hours later, but he was allegedly too high at the time to question, Rono said. The victim succumbed to his injuries Monday night, she said.
It was not clear what prompted the attack, Rono said.
Lemus, who is being held without bail, made his initial court appearance on Monday in the jail courtroom, and his arraignment was rescheduled for Sept. 15. According to jail records, his occupation is listed as construction.
Copyright 2021, City News Service, Inc.