San Mateo Man Accused of Murdering 'Gentle Giant'

A San Mateo man has been arrested in connection with a Sunday night homicide in San Bruno, and authorities say the murder may not have been a random act of violence.

Police arrested Brandon Thompson, a 26-year-old parolee, on Monday in connection with the slaying, and both he and Nicholas Vargas, 24, of San Bruno were charged with murder at their arraignment today in San Mateo County Superior Court.

The two are charged with murdering 23-year-old San Bruno resident Christopher Chastain, described by family members as a “” who loved his family and his 3-year-old son.

According to the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office, Vargas, Thompson and Chastain were at Vargas’ parents’ home on Cypress Avenue on Sunday when an argument ensued. At some point, authorities say, Vargas and Thompson knocked Chastain down and allegedly put a piece of plastic over his face before Vargas struck Chastain several times with a pipe wrench and Thompson stabbed him in the abdomen with a knife.

The two assailants then allegedly dragged Chastain outside of the house and tried to put him in the trunk of Vargas’ car, which was parked in the driveway, leaving a trail of blood along the way. However, Chastain’s 6-foot-5 frame was too heavy for them, so they left him on the ground, according to the district attorney’s office.

Thompson fled the scene while Vargas went back in the house to tell his father, who had been asleep, that “something was very wrong,” said District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe.

When Vargas’ father went outside and saw Chastain’s body on the ground, he called police.

Officers said they found Chastain lying unresponsive on the ground and appearing to have sustained “traumatic injuries.” Chastain was pronounced dead at the scene.

Both men are now being held in custody without bail and are expected back in court to enter pleas on April 20.

Wagstaffe said investigators are still piecing together what could have happened on that night.

“We only know part of the story,” he said. “There is more of the story to be learned.”