SAN JOSE, Calif. -- A homeless man died Monday after a scuffle on San Jose's busy West Santa Clara Street just before lunchtime, according to San Jose police.

Images: Memorial | Video: Raw Video of Dog

The man, Cornelius Van Der Vies, was a well-known figure in downtown San Jose because of his friendly nature and his constant companion Boo Boo.

According to witnesses, another homeless man began throwing things at Boo Boo and Van Der Vies jumped in to defend the animal.

Witnesses said the man then turned on Van Der Vies, kicking and hitting him until he collapsed.

The San Jose Mercury news reported Van Der Vies may have suffered a heart attack.

The newspaper set up a condolence page that was quickly filled with dozens of responses.

People who knew Van Der Vies have also set up a make-shift memorial in his honor.

People have been adding flowers and notes throughout Tuesday. Many people are just learning of the death as they come upon the memorial. Some openly weeped and were comforted from strangers who were gathered.

Van Der Vies' dog is now in an animal shelter on Monterey Highway in San Jose.

More than 20 people have volunteered to adopt the animal, but a worker at the shelter told NBC11's Garvin Thomas that Boo Boo has a history of bites and may not be suitable for adoption.

San Jose police said at approximately 11:43 a.m., police responded to the 100 block of West Santa Clara Street to reports of a man who was down as the result of a beating.

San Jose fire personnel pronounced Van Der Vies dead at the scene.

Due to the suspicious nature of the man's death, the San Jose police homicide unit was called to the scene and is handling the investigation, police said.

On Monday afternoon, a man was detained in connection with the death. If it is determined to be a homicide, it would be the 10th homicide in San Jose this year.