A late-night brawl that started between two men near a northeast Modesto gas station ended with a 23-year-old Modesto man clinging to life and five people arrested for their suspected involvement in the assault, a Modesto Police spokesman said Saturday.
Police identified the victim as David Cingcon, who was in critical condition at Doctors Medical Center, according to a nursing supervisor. Doctors have told police Cingcon was not expected to survive his injuries, Sgt. Craig Gundlach said.
The fight occurred about 11 p.m. Wednesday in a parking lot near the Chevron gas station at Oakdale Road and Sylvan Avenue.
Gundlach said Derrick Thomas, 22, of Modesto, arrived with friends and a dispute erupted between Thomas and Cingcon, a 2003 Johansen High graduate. Gund-lach said everyone at the parking lot knew each other, including Thomas and Cingcon.
The dispute became physical and Modesto police received several 911 calls from witnesses, including employees of a nearby restaurant.
When officers arrived, they found several people getting into a vehicle trying to flee, Gundlach said. Officers found Cingcon lying on his back in the parking lot as other officers detained people.
Cingcon was having difficulty breathing and had sustained severe head injuries, Gundlach said. Firefighters and ambulance paramedics responded to the scene to treat Cingcon, who was taken to the hospital.
After talking with witnesses at the scene, officers arrested Thomas and the four other men: Brian Warren, 19, and David Mayfield, 20, both of Modesto; Eddie Polk, 19, of Turlock; and a 17-year-old Modesto boy, according to police. Each of them was charged with one count of assault with a deadly weapon other than a firearm, Gundlach said.
Police did not release the name of 17-year-old, because he is a minor.
It appeared Cingcon was not struck with any objects or weapons, Gundlach said. While the initial fight occurred between Thomas and Cingcon, detectives believe the other four men might have hit or kicked the victim at some point during the brawl.
Homicide detectives took the lead in the investigation after doctors said Cingcon may not survive. Gundlach said some of the suspects arrested may face murder charges if Cingcon dies.
Modesto police ask anyone with information about this assault to call Detective Eric Beffa at 342-9130 or CrimeStoppers at 521-4636. Callers to CrimeStoppers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward.
Bee staff writer Rosalio Ahumada can be reached at rahumada@modbee.com or 578-2394.
RSS
E-Mail
Print
Order reprints
