A man has pleaded guilty to accidentally killing his brother during a fist fight in Alexandria, Virginia.
Prosecutors say an angry argument erupted between Brian Cruz-Segovia, 24, and his brother, 28-year-old Nelson Cruz, at their apartment on North Beauregard Street on March 25. The brothers had been drinking alcohol and eating dinner, according to prosecutors.
During the fight, Cruz-Segovia punched Cruz in the face and Cruz fell to the ground.
Cruz was found unconscious and later died at the hospital. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled his manner of death was homicide.
The Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney said Thursday there was no evidence Cruz-Segovia intended to kill his brother.
Cruz -Segovia pleaded guilty Thursday to felony involuntary manslaughter and he was sentenced to serve 10 years in prison with all but three years suspended.
“The defendant’s unthinking resort to violence has ruined two lives; not only is his brother dead, but he must live with the consequences of his actions for the rest of his life," Commonwealth's Attorney Bryan Porter said in a release. "I hope the circumstances of this case stand a warning to other citizens: do not let verbal altercations turn physical, because there are often grave consequences when people resort to violence.”
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Prosecutors say Cruz-Segovia must meet certain conditions as part of his plea including showing good behavior for 10 years after his release from prison, complying with five years of supervised probation and paying $5,000 in restitution for his brother's funeral expenses.
Cruz's death was the first homicide in Alexandria this year, according to police.
