A suspect in an alleged Fourth of July assault in southern Gwinnett County that ultimately resulted in a man's death turned himself in to authorities in Forsyth County.
The Gwinnett County Police Department said Martin Montiel-Moreno, age 40 of Lilburn, approached a Forsyth County Sheriff's deputy last Friday and said that police were looking for him. He was arrested and taken to Gwinnett County Police Headquarters in Lawrenceville.
Earlier that day, Gwinnett Police investigators were called to a home on Comanche Court to a report of an assault. When they arrived, they found Jorge De La Cruz, age 21 of Lilburn, suffering from a "severe head injury."
"He was transported to Northside Hospital in critical condition," Gwinnett Police officials said.
A resident of the home told detectives that he found De La Cruz injured and called 911. He reportedly told police that a third roommate had left the scene prior to officers arriving.
Montiel-Moreno turned himself in to Forsyth County deputies a short time later.
Two days later, on Sunday, July 6, De La Cruz reportedly died of his injuries at Northside Hospital. Montiel-Moreno was initially charged with aggravated assault and aggravated battery when he was arrested on July 4, but new charges of felony murder and malice murder have been added since De La Cruz' death.
Gwinnett Police detectives now say they believe that De La Cruz, Montiel-Moreno and the resident who called 911 all lived in the home together as roommates. The motive for the alleged assault remains under investigation.
Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact Gwinnett Police by calling 770-513-5300 or Crime Stoppers Greater Atlanta by calling 404-577-TIPS.
