SAN DIEGO–Homicide detectives are investigating the death of a man found burning near northbound Interstate 5 freeway and the train tracks, San Diego police said Sunday.
San Diego police and fire department received a call at 8:06 a.m. of a fire in the area of 2700 Morena Boulevard. Firefighters and police officers responded and discovered a body on fire. Firefighters extinguished the blaze and discovered the deceased and badly burned body of a male adult. The identity of the male is not known.
It is also unknown if the male was already dead at the time of the burning, or if he suffered any additional trauma. The San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office will conduct an autopsy to determine the cause of death.
Homicide detectives and arson investigators are conducting a scene investigation and looking for witnesses in the area. Preliminary investigation has revealed a person of interest and potential suspect was running from the scene around the time the fire was reported. That person is described as a male ranging in age from 30 to 50 years-old wearing a tan or brown jacket or sweatshirt. The male also wore a baseball hat of an unknown color and was carrying a backpack. The unknown male was seen running southbound from the scene and ultimately crossed the northbound lanes of Interstate 5 to the center divider.
He also was seen carrying a gas can within two blocks of the burn site before the radio calls began to come in.
Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to call the San Diego Police Department’s Homicide Unit at 619-531-2293, or Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.
