David Santiago beaten to death at a rave party in Phoenix, suspects loose

PHOENIX - A fight at a rave party in Phoenix turns deadly. Police believe hundreds of people may have witnessed the confrontation but have received very little information.

Police say David Santiago, 22, went to a rave at an abandoned warehouse near 23rd Ave and McDowell Road on November 25. Police say Santiago got into a fight for an unknown reason.

One suspect punched him and knocked him to the ground. A second suspect stomped on his head, Sgt. Darren Burch, with Silent Witness, said.

Police were called and Santiago was taken to the hospital.

Police say there were roughly 1,000 people at the rave and the fight happened as he was leaving the party. Police initially investigated the incident as an assault.

Indalecio Santiago, David's father, was called to the hospital 24 hours after the fight. "It seemed like he was going to make it," he said.

Doctors thought that the worse case would be brain damage but his condition declined even further. David died 10 days later from brain hemorrhaging, his father said.

Police are now investigating the case as a homicide. They have few details on the suspects. A security guard from a building next door described one of  the suspects as a light skinned, Hispanic male, between 5 feet 9 inches and 5 feet 10 inches tall, 180 to 190 pounds, with brown hair. He was wearing a red shirt at the time. The other suspect is described only as a thinner male.

Police say any information could help. There is a $1,000 reward for tips leading to an arrest. Tips will remain anonymous. Call Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS.