The suspect in a 2019 murder has pleaded No Contest to the crime.

Santos Velasquez was arrested and charged with murder after a physical altercation in the parking lot of a local motel. According to El Centro police, at about 6:30 a.m. on June 24, 2019, officers responded to the parking lot in the 200 block of North Imperial Avenue and found a man lying on the ground bleeding from injuries to his head and neck. The victim later succumbed to his injuries. Velasquez was identified as the assailant in the fight and was arrested. Velasquez subsequently pleaded no contest to first degree murder and is currently awaiting sentencing.