SAN DIEGO–A homeless man who was brutally attacked and set on fire July 6 by an assailant died today at a local hospital, San Diego police said Sunday.
Homicide detectives identified the victim as 23-year-old Dionicio Derek Vahidy of San Diego. He died just before 1 p.m. Sunday.
The suspect in the attacks, 36-year-old Anthony Alexander Padgett of Chula Vista was taken into custody July 7 in connection with the brutal attacks on homeless men July 3 and 4, leaving two others dead and one in serious condition.
Padgett is currently in jail. He faces several counts of murder and several counts of attempted murder.