VISTA, Calif. (KGTV) — The San Diego County Sheriff's Department says it arrested a 25-year-old man for murder after a body was found outside a Vista motel on Jan. 5.
Brian Zarate, 25, was arrested and booked into the San Diego Central Jail on a murder charge, the department's press release says.
A little after midnight on Jan. 5, SDSD deputies found 39-year-old Oscar Rodriguez's body near the Star Lodge motel in the 1900 block of West Vista Way.
SDSD says Rodriguez had gunshot wounds to his upper body and was pronounced dead at the scene that day, prompting the department to open a homicide investigation.
Deputies say at this point in the investigation, they have learned Zarate knew Rodriguez, but the exact nature of their relationship is unclear.
"The motivation and circumstances are still under investigation," the release says.
If you have any information for deputies, reach out to the department's Homicide Unit at 858-285-6330. To stay anonymous with your tip, call San Diego County Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.
