A tragic turn of events occurred in Phoenix, where a family's cry for help resulted in a father being shot by police, as reported by multiple sources. Christian Diaz, identified by his family and according to FOX 10 Phoenix, was killed while restraining an armed intruder in his home on Monday evening. Diaz's son, Carlos Recinos, stated that after the intruder shot him in the ankle, his father managed to subdue the assailant in a chokehold. Despite warnings from Diaz's wife to the police about her husband holding down the intruder, an officer fired through an open door, striking Diaz in the jaw. Neighbor Sonya Rodriguez witnessed the warning saying, "He asked her 'what happened?' and she said, 'There's the person that was shooting inside, and my husband is holding him.' So she said, ‘Be careful, because my husband is holding him,’ and it was within seconds that the policeman came inside, and he shot the husband," to FOX 10 Phoenix.
Daimen Rosas, Diaz's 19-year-old son, recounted from his hospital bed, the events that had unfolded that night to AZ Family; he initially thought the gunfire was fireworks until it got louder and the gunman, later identified as the son of their landlord and having mental health issues began shooting into the home, breaking into the home after shooting out a sliding glass door. After disarming and restraining the gunman, Daimen said, "And when the police arrived, they saw my dad beating on the gunman, and they shot my dad in the head."
The Arizona Department of Public Safety is now handling the investigation after an officer fired from outside the home, which led to Diaz's death, as family members and witnesses have expressed their need for accountability following this incident, Diaz's wife Mariana Gonzalez demands justice, and while she recognizes nothing will bring back her husband, she wants to ensure such a tragedy does not happen to anyone else. Jarvis Rosas Gonzales, another of Diaz’s sons, lamented, "Sorry doesn’t bring back my dad," and expressed how critical his father was to their family's support system, now lost, as recounted to FOX 10 Phoenix.
Diaz is remembered by his relatives as a hero, and as the investigation continues, his family has started a GoFundMe to assist with funeral expenses; Jarvis Rosas, another family member, expressed to AZ Family his outrage, insisting officers were told the gunman was already subdued and recounted, "My little brother and my mom come out of the house with their hands up, and they’re saying, ‘Hey, guy is already on the floor, there is no need for violence, you can put away the guns, you don’t have to fire, don’t shoot.’"
