Belmont police investigate man found dead in car
Belmont police say the case of a man found dead in his car near a popular fast-food chain is not being investigated as a suspicious death.
BELMONT, California. – Belmont police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a man who was found in his parked car near a fast-food restaurant.
The San Mateo County Coroner’s Office identified the man Thursday as 77-year-old Kevin Gildea Kelly of nearby San Carlos.
Authorities say they do not believe Kelly’s death was the result of a crime.
A passerby captured video of the scene outside the Panda Express restaurant in Belmont on Wednesday. Kelly was found dead in his vehicle around 6:10 p.m., shocking the quiet community of 28,000 residents.
“It’s pretty unusual. I live about four blocks from this area. I moved here in 1962 and I can remember three murders in the last 30 years,” said longtime resident Alan Frazen. “It’s pretty unusual that there’s any crime at all in Belmont. There are virtually no burglaries in my neighborhood.”
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Police said Kelly’s death was not being treated as a criminal case.
Officers were called to the scene at Emmett Avenue and El Camino Real due to a medical emergency involving Kelly.
“We responded and found him unconscious. We began life-saving aid and medical treatment. We tried to resuscitate him for about half an hour. The doctor came and assisted, but we were unable to resuscitate him,” said Belmont Police Captain Andrew Armando.
According to witnesses, Kelly entered the restaurant, ordered and ate, then returned to his car.
Investigators do not believe the meal was related to the medical emergency or Kelly’s death.
“The caller had told us that the gentleman looked lethargic when he entered the restaurant and that he didn’t seem well, kind of hunched over. So it was probably a medical visit that was needed, but we’re not sure at this point,” Armando said.
The coroner’s office said the exact cause of Kelly’s death is still under investigation.
Jesse Gary is a reporter in the South Bay bureau. Follow him on Instagram at @jessegontv and on Facebook at @JesseKTVU.
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