On the afternoon of December 5, a road rage incident unfolded in Houston, resulting in the death of 45-year-old Edward Jiminez. Armando Ruiz Diaz, 47, a Lyft driver, has been accused of murder after a dispute on the roads led to a fatal shooting. A judge has since set Ruiz Diaz's bond at a steep $500,000, as Click2Houston reports. The altercation seems to have started when Jiminez reportedly cut off Ruiz Diaz, prompting the violent response.
Details of the incident emerged in court, where it was disclosed that Jiminez managed to photograph Ruiz Diaz's vehicle just before the fatal shooting. This photo, found on the victim's phone, then led investigators to connect Ruiz Diaz to two other road rage incidents, including one involving a firearm, KHOU 11 News detailed. Further to the bond set, the presiding judge has put a conditional bar on Ruiz Diaz's driving privileges, only to be lifted with permission from the trial court.
Court documents detail the events of the day, with witnesses reporting seeing Jiminez drive into a parking lot in distress. He walked into Time Saver Gas & Grocery to inform the clerk that he had been shot, before collapsing outside. Despite the efforts of a witness who performed chest compressions at the scene, Jiminez passed away after being transported to the hospital.
Upon entering Ruiz Diaz's home, Houston police discovered the alleged murder weapon—a gun disassembled and immersed in a cleaning solution. The discovery came after Ruiz Diaz directed the officers to a safe in a rear bedroom closet. It was not only the physical evidence that confirmed the suspect's involvement, but also a phone call that provided key information to the Jiminez family. "His words were 'Your husband's killer has been found and he has been detained and in custody.' So hearing that our hearts kind of just dropped," Leila Jimenez, the victim's daughter, recounted to KHOU 11 News.
The family is facing a holiday season affected by grief and the absence of Jiminez. "This happened right before Christmas. You know, it's it's the holidays are never going to be the same," Leila told KHOU 11 News. As they prepare for the judicial process, the family expresses a desire for justice and for Jiminez, remembered by many as a loving husband, father, and friend, to rest in peace.
