Brandon Gomez, 26, of no fixed address, Manchester

MANCHESTER — Brian Berlo, the 57-year-old homeless man found unconscious and unresponsive in Victory Park last Thursday night, was initially listed in stable condition after treatment at Elliot Hospital, but recently took a turn for the worse and died Sunday, police said.

A suspect identified as Brandon Gomez, 36, a Manchester resident with no fixed address, was arrested the following day in the area of Wilson and Valley streets and charged with first-degree assault, a Class A felony, and was held in jail pending arraignment, which took place Monday in Hillsborough County Superior Court North.

Police said Gomez was ordered held on preventive detention at arraignment.

The first-degree assault charge could be upgraded, police said, based on the autopsy report that ruled Berlo’s death was caused by blunt head trauma, and that his death is a homicide.

Based on the investigation thus far, police said that detectives have learned that Berlo was in an argument with two other men, and at some point the argument turned into a physical altercation.

It was during the altercation that Berlo was “significantly assaulted,” police said.

They said that all aspects of the incident remain under investigation, and ask anyone who may have additional information contact the department’s detective division at 668-8711, or leave an anonymous message on the Manchester Crime Line at 624-4040.

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256 or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.

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