A man accused of killing another man who was shot and dragged by a car in a Mount Hope-area neighborhood pleaded not guilty Tuesday to murder and other charges.
Fernando Arellano, 20, is accused in the June 20, 2021, death of 56-year-old David Aviles, who police found pinned beneath a car at 4100 F St. at around 8:15 p.m.
San Diego police Lt. Andra Brown said investigators learned that Aviles got into an altercation with the occupants of a dark-colored Honda, leading to gunshots being fired. Aviles was struck and dragged by the car.
The victim, a San Diego resident, died at the scene.
Arellano was taken into custody Jan. 13 in Tecate, Mexico, and turned over to U.S. authorities at the border. Police did not disclose what led investigators to identify Arellano as a suspect in the case.
The criminal complaint filed against Arellano also charges him with the attempted murder of another person on June 20, as well as a felony count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Both the murder and attempted murder counts include allegations of personally and intentionally discharging a firearm.