Man accused of killing brother over argument

A fight between adult brothers with an odd living situation turned deadly over the weekend, a Las Vegas police arrest report shows.

Steve Medrano Sr., 35, and Juan Medrano, 32, lived at the same address in the 300 block of Martha Street, near the intersection of Stewart Avenue and Marion Drive.

But they weren't normal roommates.

The younger brother wasn't allowed in the house, past a garage and a bathroom, Metro said.

Maria Santillan, who also lives at the house, told police the brothers had been feuding for about six months. Steve Medrano, she said, complained about his younger brother, who didn't have a job and used drugs.

She said Steve Medrano didn't like the people his brother brought around his children, the police report said, and also didn't want Juan Medrano to eat his kids' food.

On Sunday, one of those fights turned fatal.

The younger brother, police said, punched the older brother until he was unconscious.

Steve Medrano died from internal bleeding caused by blunt force injuries to the abdomen, the Clark County coroner's office said. His death was classified as a homicide.

Juan Medrano called Santillan about 5:15 p.m. Sunday and told her that he "got into a fight with my bro and he's not waking up," police said.

Santillan, who wasn't home during the fight, told the brother to call 911, but he refused.

Juan Medrano told her, "No, I don't want to go to jail," the report said. He hung up by called back in three minutes, asking where Santillan was.

She told him to perform CPR, police said, and that she was on her way.

Santillan called 911 herself and headed to the house on Martha Street.

When she got there she told police she found the younger brother was knelt over "punching Steve's chest in an attempt to get him to breath," police said. Then Juan Medrano left in his brother's van.

Steve Medrano died shortly after at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center.

Police also interviewed of Steve Medrano's three children, who said they heard their father arguing with their uncle, the report says. The elder Medrano was telling the younger to clean the garage so he could park his van.

Then, the police report says, the children heard a "thud."

When the children went outside after hearing the noise, police said, Juan Medrano told them to help him take their father inside.

Steve Medrano was missing two teeth and bleeding from the mouth, one of the children told police.

When police got to the house, Maria Santillan trying to provide first aid to Steve Medrano.

Juan Medrano was arrested early Monday.

When interviewed by detectives, he told them he punched his brother about three times on the face and told him "not to get up," the report said, but he soon realized he wasn't breathing.

Juan Medrano said that he didn't call 911 because he didn't know what to do and didn't think "it was that serious."

He was booked into the Clark County Detention Center. He is facing a murder charge and one count of possession of a stolen vehicle.

Contact Ricardo Torres at rtorres@reviewjournal.com and 702-383-0381. Find him on Twitter: @rickytwrites.