Man Who Died Following Fight At Point Loma Heights Rental Home ID'd

SAN DIEGO, CA — Authorities Wednesday publicly identified a 38-year-old Illinois man who died over the Presidents Day weekend during a predawn scuffle with another member of a group of tourists staying at a vacation-rental home in Point Loma Heights.

Patrol officers responding to a report of a medical emergency shortly after 2 a.m. Monday found Mark Giancarlo of Chicago unconscious and unresponsive at the house in the 2800 block of Poinsettia Drive, west of Midway Drive and south of West Point Loma Boulevard, according to the San Diego Police Department.

Paramedics took Giancarlo to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, SDPD Lt. Jud Campbell said.

Investigators determined that Giancarlo had gotten into a struggle with a fellow member of a traveling group staying at the rental home, according to police.

"While being restrained, Giancarlo went into medical distress, leading to the 911 call," the lieutenant said.

The other person involved in the fracas, a 44-year-old man whose name has been withheld, was detained and questioned by homicide detectives before being released pending further investigation.

A ruling on the cause of the fatality was on hold pending completion of postmortem examinations.

"This investigation is open and ongoing," Campbell said Wednesday. "Detectives continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding Giancarlo's death."

— City News Service