The family of Christian Diaz has filed a $25 million notice of claim against the City of Phoenix and the officer who fatally shot him inside his southwest Phoenix home in late January, a required step before a lawsuit. The claim follows the release of body-camera and doorbell footage that appears to show Diaz grappling with an armed intruder when an officer fired through the open doorway. Under Arizona law, filing this notice is the first formal move toward potentially suing a public agency.
According to KJZZ, the filing seeks $25 million in damages and alleges that officers arriving at the home were told several times that the suspect had already been subdued. The claim says one officer still aimed a rifle into the doorway, shouted "show me your hands," and then pulled the trigger one second later, hitting Diaz as he sat on top of the disarmed intruder. KJZZ also notes that in Arizona, filing such a notice is the statutorily required precursor to suing a city or public employee.
What the footage shows
Body‑camera and surveillance clips released by the Phoenix Police Department and obtained by reporters show family members sprinting out of the house and telling officers the attacker was under control, Phoenix New Times reported. The outlet says the officer who fired, identified in records as Jason Valenzuela, shined a rifle‑mounted light into the doorway and fired a single shot that struck Diaz while he was pinning down the man who had been shooting into the home.
Suspect indicted amid fallout
Maricopa County prosecutors have since indicted 33‑year‑old Edgar Ledezma Garcia on 11 felony counts, including a felony‑murder charge that can apply when someone is killed during the commission of a dangerous felony, according to AZFamily. Court records and surveillance details cited in that reporting say Garcia fired multiple rounds at the house before forcing his way inside on Jan. 26; the person he allegedly shot inside the home was not seriously injured.
Chief apologizes, investigations continue
Phoenix Police Chief Matt Giordano has publicly apologized to Diaz’s family while outside agencies and internal investigators pick apart what went wrong, KJZZ reported. The Arizona Department of Public Safety is running a criminal investigation, and Phoenix police have launched an internal review. Family members and local advocates, unconvinced by official statements so far, have blasted the department’s response and are demanding accountability as they press officials on why the officer opened fire despite repeated warnings from people at the scene.
What the notice of claim means
Under Arizona law, anyone who wants to pursue a claim against a public entity or public employee generally has 180 days from when the claim accrues to file a notice that lays out enough facts to explain the alleged liability and states a specific dollar amount. The statute also says a claim is treated as denied if the government does not answer within 60 days, per Arizona Revised Statutes § 12‑821.01. Legal guidance notes that the 180‑day clock is unforgiving; missing it can permanently block a lawsuit, which is why getting a notice on file is a key procedural step before a wrongful‑death or civil‑rights case against the city can move forward, according to commentary from IBF Law Group.
What happens next
With the Diaz family’s notice now submitted, Phoenix has 60 days to respond before the family can escalate to a lawsuit if the claim is rejected or not resolved, Phoenix New Times reported. In the meantime, investigators are still gathering records, video, and witness statements for both prosecutors and internal affairs. The filing increases legal pressure on the city just as the criminal case against Garcia moves ahead and community groups keep pushing for transparency and consequences.
