MIDDLETOWN – A Middletown man who was punched in the head and kicked when he fell to the ground last week has died from his injuries and the alleged perpetrator has been charged with manslaughter.
The incident occurred at the BP gas station at 139 Wickham Avenue in the City of Middletown, police said.
Officers found Daniel Mesa-Rios, 31, lying on the ground unconscious.
Police identified the alleged suspect as Jose Vazquez-Rivera, who had engaged in an altercation with the victim.
Vazquez-Rivera was initially charged with assault, but when Mesa-Rios died at the hospital on Saturday, July 30, Vazquez-Rivera was charged with manslaughter and remanded to the Orange County Jail.
The incident was investigated by the Middletown Police Detective Division with assistance from the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.
