Friends called this homeless man ‘Oaxaca.’ Police say his killer is in custody

Ruben Martinez, 60, is in custody in connection with the beating death of a homeless man in southeast Fresno in September 2016, Fresno police reported Wednesday.

Nicomede Paz Velasco, 22, known to his friends as “Oaxaca,” was found Sept. 21 in front of an auto parts store near Butler Avenue and Fifth Street. Velasco, who had sustained trauma to his upper body, was taken to Community Regional Medical Center, where he died.

Witnesses told detectives Velasco was homeless and camped in the area. Sgt. Larry Bowlen said video surveillance and forensic evidence was recovered as part of the investigation. Martinez was arrested Dec. 6.

This story was originally published December 13, 2017 at 10:34 AM with the headline "Friends called this homeless man ‘Oaxaca.’ Police say his killer is in custody."