A man who police described as a transient has been arrested and charged with voluntary manslaughter for allegedly killing a man during an altercation in a McDonald’s restaurant in Hollywood.

Police arrested Jeremy Harris, 36, on July 31 near the intersection of Vine Street and Afton Place — approximately one block south of the McDonald’s, which is located at the intersection of Vine Street and DeLongpre Avenue. Det. Steven Katz, with the Los Angeles Police Department’s West Bureau Homicide Unit, said the suspect frequented the Hollywood area and was known to patrol officers.

Harris is charged in the death of Hollywood resident Gabriel Ortega, 57. Ortega was in the fast food restaurant at approximately 9:35 p.m. on June 18 when he observed a man allegedly acting aggressively toward a 3-year-old boy. The victim stepped between the man and the boy, and told the suspect to leave the child alone, Katz said. The man then struck Ortega multiple times in the head and fled the restaurant on foot.

Ortega did not immediately seek medical attention, but went to the hospital three days later after suffering from dizziness, nausea and vomiting. Doctors determined Ortega was suffering from brain hemorrhaging, and he was hospitalized. The victim died on July 14.

Authorities didn’t rule the death a homicide until 23 days later, when an autopsy was performed and the cause of death was determined to be from blunt force trauma to the head. Last week, investigators sought the public’s help in locating the suspect, and were able to identify him by working with officers from the LAPD’s Hollywood Division, Katz said.

Patrol officers who routinely come in contact with homeless individuals came up with some potential suspects based on witness descriptions, and witnesses positively identified Harris through a photograph, Katz said. Police later took Harris into custody at approximately 10:30 a.m. on July 31, and he was formally charged with voluntary manslaughter. The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges on Monday.

Katz said it is still unknown why Harris allegedly targeted the boy, who was in the restaurant with his mother and grandmother.

“That’s the $10 million question,” Katz said. “He didn’t say anything to us. We don’t know why he had this violent outburst at the McDonald’s.”

Ortega was described as a bystander who stepped in to help the family.

“It’s really sad. He was truly a Good Samaritan, and unfortunately, he paid with his life,” Katz added.

A spokesman for the district attorney’s office said the suspect was charged with voluntary manslaughter and not murder after the facts of the case were reviewed, but offered no further explanation. The boy’s mother and grandmother were not injured in the altercation. Katz said he did not how long Harris had been in Hollywood.

“The officers in the area know the transients very well, and we were able to focus on Mr. Harris,” Katz said. “Once we had a photograph, we ID’d the guy through witnesses, and the officers quickly arrested him. He does have several arrests in the Hollywood area for assaults.”

No further information about Harris’ criminal history was available. He is currently being held in custody in lieu of $100,000 bail.