Arraignment today for two suspected of killing Gabe Hallman

Wednesday, Dec. 19—

Two men suspected of killing a City Heights man following a fight at a social gathering in the Chollas Creek area were scheduled to be arraigned today.

Francisco Jose Arellano, 32, of Chula Vista and Michael Vincent Reyes, 29, of El Cajon were already in custody for alleged parole violations when they were re-booked Monday on suspicion of murdering former Ramona resident Michael Gabriel Hallman, 34, according to San Diego police Lt. Ernie Herbert.

Shortly after 5:30 a.m. on Sept. 30, patrol officers responding to a report of an assault in the 5000 block of Sterling Court found Hallman in front of a home in the area suffering from several stab wounds. Medics took him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead about an hour later, Herbert said.

The lieutenant declined to disclose what led detectives to identify Arellano and Reyes as the alleged killers. Herbert also would not comment on a suspected motive, though he said the victim and suspects apparently got into a fight during some sort of social gathering.

Hallmann, known as “Gabe” to his family and friends, grew up in Ramona but last lived and worked in the city of San Diego as a licensed massage therapist. He was survived by his 4-year-old daughter.

On Dec. 5, Hallmann’s family held a candlelight vigil on the Ramona soccer fields, where the victim excelled as an athlete in his youth.

Hallmann’s mother, Jennifer Hallmann, said during the vigil that police had informed her just hours earlier that an arrest was made in the case and more arrests were possible. But police waited until Tuesday to disclose the news to the public.