Man arrested in connection with fatal beating in Mission Bay

San Diego police arrested a man Thursday in connection with the 2023 fatal beating of a 51-year-old man in Mission Bay, the department said Friday.

Lee Orozco, 34, was arrested on suspicion of murder around noon on Sea World Drive less than 3 miles from where the attack on Eric Nelson took place in August 2023.

The incident occurred at North Cove a beach on Vacation Isle located within Mission Bay.

Nelson was confronted by a man at the beach and was allegedly punched and kicked, police said.

He transported himself to a hospital for his injuries but died at the hospital three weeks later, police said. The cause of death was determined to be blunt-force injury.