Police identify man who died following downtown altercation

SALT LAKE CITY — Police identified a 62-year-old man who died Wednesday after a downtown altercation at a gas station.

Alfred Montoya died following a brief fight at the Smith's Express gas station at 873 E. South Temple that broke out just after 7 p.m., Salt Lake City police detective Carlie Wiechman said. Police reported that a 53-year-old man was in the convenience store drinking from the cooler when Montoya came in.

The two, who are not believed to have known each other, exchanged words before a brief altercation. Montoya was the instigator, police said, and took an elbow to the head during the fight. Afterward in the parking lot, he appeared to be stumbling and out of breath.

He entered his vehicle and collapsed. He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

It is believed Montoya may have been drinking, but it is unclear if that played a role in his death. His cause of death remained under investigation by the medical examiner, Wiechman said. 

— Emiley Morgan, Twitter: DNewsCrimeTeam