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Man killed after brother-in-law hits him with truck after Christmas party fight, police say

Police are looking for a suspect in a Christmas party fight in Georgia.
Police are looking for a suspect in a Christmas party fight in Georgia.

Police in Georgia are looking for a man who they say fatally struck his brother-in-law after getting into a physical altercation during a family Christmas party.

The incident occurred early Saturday morning in the city of Lawrenceville, about 25 miles northeast of Atlanta. The Gwinnett County Police Department said they received calls around 5:15 a.m. reporting a man, identified as 41-year-old Juan Davila, lying in the street "suffering from significant injuries" from a pedestrian collision.

Davila was taken to a local hospital where he later died from his injuries. During preliminary investigations, Gwinnett County detectives ruled that the Davila had died as a result of a homicide.

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Police said Davila had attended a Christmas party at a Lawrenceville home when he got into an argument with his brother-in-law, identified as 34-year-old Ernesto Pelayo. The argument turned into a physical fight that occurred in the backyard of the home.

Pelayo and Davila then left the house, and Pelayo got in his truck. Officials say Pelayo then hit Davila with his truck on the road in front of the house before driving away.

Detectives said they are unsure what caused the argument and how Pelayo and Davila ended up in front of the house. An investigation is still ongoing.

The Gwinnett County Police Department told USA TODAY on Sunday they are still looking for Pelayo, who was last seen in a black Dodge Ram during the incident. Police have active warrants for Pelayo for felony murder and aggravated assault.

Follow Jordan Mendoza on Twitter: @jordan_mendoza5.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Police: Man fatally hits brother-in-law with truck at Christmas party