A 44-year-old man suspected of fatally stabbing a 38-year-old man at a budget hotel in the Gaslamp District was in custody Thursday morning.
Police were called at 6:58 p.m. Wednesday regarding the stabbing of man on the second floor of the Golden West Hotel, a budget hotel and apartment building at 720 Fourth Avenue.
Officers found the victim and immediately began life saving measures until San Diego Fire-Rescue paramedics arrived. The victim was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Homicide investigators called to the scene said they believed the two men were engaged in an argument that escalated into a fight, leading to the fatal stabbing.
Police said a man ran from the hotel immediately after the stabbing. Shortly afterward, Rene Lunar called San Diego Police Department dispatch to turn himself in.
Lunar was arrested without further incident on the 1500 block of India Street, Lt. Travis Easter said.
Police said the victim has been identified but his name is being withheld pending family notification.
Anyone with information regarding this stabbing was asked to call the SDPD Homicide Unit at 619-531-2293 or San Diego County Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.
City News Service contributed to this article.
