An Annandale man has been charged with murder after allegedly assaulting another man who later died from his injuries.
Detectives with the Fairfax County Police Department began investigating the death of Elmer Castro — a 32-year-old man with no fixed address — on Aug. 12 after the Virginia Medical Examiner’s Office reported the circumstances as suspicious.
Castro had been transported to a hospital on Aug. 4 by a Fairfax County Fire and Rescue ambulance. Called to the 4200 block of Annandale Road in Annandale, the emergency responders believed Castro was drunk and had gotten injured in a “possible fall,” according to the FCPD.
“His health quickly declined and he succumbed to his injuries eight days later,” the police department said in a news release.
However, investigators later determined that Castro was actually injured in an assault. The FCPD has identified Elmar Waldemar Xitumul Vasquez, 39, as the suspect.
Xitumul Vasquez was arrested on Sept. 5 and charged with second-degree murder. He’s currently in custody without bond at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center following an arraignment yesterday (Monday).
“Detectives continue to conduct interviews to determine the circumstances that led to the fatal assault,” the FCPD said.
Because the police investigation is ongoing, a spokesperson for the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department says they’re unable to comment on specific details of the case.
“The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department strives to provide the highest quality care to our patients,” the FCFRD spokesperson said. “Our providers are trained to conduct a thorough assessment of the patient upon arrival to determine medical needs and care.”
The Fairfax County General District Court is scheduled to hold a preliminary hearing in the case on Dec. 10 at 2 p.m., according to online court records.
