Dependent 18-year-old died after caretaker kicked him in the head: Police

ELK GROVE, Calif. (KTXL) -- A caretaker was arrested Tuesday, Jan. 14, after police say he kicked an 18-year-old resident at an Elk Grove facility in the head, leading to his death.

The Elk Grove Police Department reports a warrant for involuntary manslaughter was issued for Aaron Gacilan's arrest following the death of an 18-year-old man, identified by the coroner's office as Alexander Sanchez.

Around 4 p.m. on Dec. 26, the Cosumnes Fire Department was called to Generations Drive, near Ancestor Drive, where they found Sanchez unconscious.

Police say Sanchez and Gacilan, 31, had gotten into a physical altercation. During the fight, Gacilan kicked the 18-year-old several times in the head, causing him to go limp. About four hours later, Gacilan checked on Sanchez and found him unconscious. Gacilan called 911.

Sanchez was taken to Kaiser Permanente South Sacramento Medical Center. Two days later, police say hospital staff notified them of an injury found on Sanchez's head, prompting Elk Grove detectives to launch an investigation. On Dec. 31, Sanchez died at the hospital.

Elk Grove Police say their investigation led them to Gacilan, who works as a caretaker at a local residential care facility for dependent adults. Police say Sanchez was the only full-time resident at the facility.