A man suspected of assaulting a 69-year-old man in Irvine last week — in an attack that police initially thought could have been a hate crime — was arrested Thursday in what investigators now say was related to a dispute over a dog being unleashed.
Keven Quiroz, 23, was booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and elder abuse, according to Sgt. Karie Davies of the Irvine Police Department.
In an attempt to generate leads, police this week had released video of attack, which occurred around 7 p.m. on March 19 at Sierra Vista Middle School. The surveillance video and photos led to an anonymous tip, which led to the suspect’s arrest, Davies said.
Quiroz was arrested at his apartment in Tustin, where police also seized a rifle from the suspect’s vehicle, Davies said. Police were working to determine if the rifle was legally obtained, the sergeant added.
Investigators suspect the attack stemmed from a dispute over Quiroz letting his dog off leash, Davies said. She said it does not appear the victim’s ethnicity was a factor in the attack.