San Ysidro Man Arrested After Allegedly Throwing Girlfriend Off Balcony During Fight
SAN YSIDRO — A domestic argument turned deadly Monday evening when a 61-year-old woman was allegedly thrown to her death from a third-floor apartment walkway by her boyfriend in the San Ysidro neighborhood of San Diego. The incident has sent shockwaves through the tight-knit residential community and prompted renewed calls for action against domestic violence.
San Diego Police say the fatal altercation occurred shortly after 7:20 p.m. at a residential complex located on the 500 block of West San Ysidro Boulevard, near Averil Road. According to SDPD Lt. Lou Maggi, officers were dispatched following multiple 911 calls from witnesses who claimed to have seen a man hurl a woman over a balcony railing.
Responding officers found Irene Williams, 61, lying motionless in the courtyard below. She had suffered severe head trauma and a broken leg from the fall. Paramedics rushed Williams to a nearby hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
Authorities arrested 57-year-old Albert Turner at the scene. Witnesses and police reports describe a violent confrontation between the couple that culminated in Turner allegedly picking Williams up and throwing her over the railing after she began tossing his clothes off the balcony during the heated argument.
“She was throwing his stuff out, yelling at him, and then suddenly he just picked her up and launched her,” one witness told investigators. “She cartwheeled in the air and landed on her head. It was horrifying.”
In a statement released Tuesday, the San Diego Police Department described the incident as a “domestic-related homicide.” Turner and Williams had reportedly been living together in the apartment for roughly a month. Neighbors said the relationship appeared strained from the start.
“I see her around all the time,” one neighbor told NBC 7. “She was just a frail, little old lady. He was big, muscular — you could tell he was a strong guy. It didn’t seem like a fair match.”
The killing raises serious concerns about the ongoing dangers posed by domestic violence, particularly for older and physically vulnerable women. Advocates are urging residents to speak out if they suspect abuse in their communities.
Turner was booked into San Diego County Jail late Monday on suspicion of murder. As of Tuesday morning, he remained in custody without bail. Charges are expected to be formally filed by the District Attorney’s office in the coming days.
This tragedy marks yet another grim reminder that domestic violence cuts across age, race, and socioeconomic lines. In California alone, domestic violence-related calls to law enforcement exceed 160,000 annually, according to state data. Advocates stress that early intervention, access to resources, and community awareness are crucial to preventing fatal outcomes like this one.
The San Diego Police Department is asking anyone with additional information about the incident to contact their Homicide Unit at (619) 531-2293 or call Crime Stoppers anonymously at (888) 580-8477.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or text “START” to 88788.
