Stamford police are investigating how a violent shove led to the city's latest homicide.

An area of Alden Street near Stillwater Avenue has turned into a memorial for 43-year-old Leobardo Quintero.

Lt. Michael Noto says last Thursday night, a group of 20 people was hanging out on the sidewalk -- some drinking -- when a few people got into an argument.

"It wasn't a fist fight," he said. "It was more yelling and screaming at each other with pushing and shoving. Then (Quintero) got shoved pretty hard at one point and fell to the ground."

Quintero's best friend, Griselle Lieva, was just up the street at home when her daughter came running.

"She goes, 'Mommy, mommy! Leo hit his head on the floor,'" Lieva said. "And I come down running."

Lieva says what happened next is burned into her mind.

"He's squeezing my hand hard, and my daughter, she called the police and the ambulance," she said.

Quintero went to the hospital with a brain bleed and was put on life support. He died Tuesday.

Police say they have several witnesses and footage from security cameras in the neighborhood. Investigators do have a person of interest and expect to wrap up the case soon.

But that is little comfort to those who will never see Quintero again.

"Everybody could tell you that he was sweetest guy," said Emily Soto, another friend of Quintero's. "He didn't like violence at all. He'd always see people arguing, he'd be like, 'No no no, we gotta stay cool.' He was just that kind of person."

Friends tell News 12 Quintero lived in Stamford for 15 years. They have set up a GoFundMe account to help pay for his funeral.

 

Police: Man dies from injuries resulting from fight in Stamford