Roommate with sledgehammer killed man in grisly attack, Georgia police say

A 21-year-old man brought to a Georgia hospital with severe head injuries had been slammed with a sledgehammer, police say.

The victim, Jorge De La Cruz, died two days later, and his roommate is suspected in the killing, Gwinnett County police said in a July 9 news release.

The attack happened just after 1 p.m. July 4, at a home shared by three men in the unincorporated Lilburn community, police said.

“An occupant of the residence told detectives that he discovered the victim with a head injury and called 911,” police said in the release.

“Upon arrival, officers found De La Cruz suffering from a severe head injury. He was transported to Northside Hospital in critical condition.”

Detectives learned one of the three roommates, Martin Montiel-Moreno, had left the home just before police arrived.

Montiel-Moreno, 40, returned to the area soon after and surrendered to Forsyth County deputies, stating “police were looking for him,” officers said.

He was arrested and charged with aggravated battery and aggravated assault, police said. The charges were upgraded to felony murder and malice murder after De La Cruz died on Sunday, July 6, officers said.

A warrant states De La Cruz was struck at least twice with the sledgehammer, causing him to lose brain function and the ability to move.

A motive in the killing has not been released.

Lilburn is about a 20-mile drive northeast from Atlanta.

This story was originally published July 10, 2025 at 12:55 PM with the headline "Roommate with sledgehammer killed man in grisly attack, Georgia police say."