Attempted Homicide Conviction (2023 Incident)
July 29, 2024 12:19 PM
This is an update to an incident from January 2023. On the evening of January 18th, 2023, SMPD Officers responded to a ‘Shots Fired’ call in the 1500 block of Palisades Park. Responding officers discovered a victim who was shot in the face and subsequently transported to a local hospital.
During the investigation, detectives uncovered evidence that on that date and time the victim was in an argument with three subjects. One of the subjects, later identified as Angel Diaz, 21, a resident of Los Angeles, produced a handgun and shot the victim once in the face. The incident is believed to be gang-related.
Detectives discovered the suspect discarded evidence at the crime scene, which was later confirmed via DNA as belonging to Diaz. In addition, Diaz was captured on CCTV footage as he fled the area on foot.
During the investigation, SMPD detectives discovered Diaz was arrested on February 10th, 2023, by LAPD for attempted murder with a handgun. Ballistic evidence proved that the handgun used in the SMPD case was also used in the LAPD case.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office filed attempted murder charges against Diaz for the SMPD and LAPD incidents. On July 9, 2024, Diaz pled guilty to 245(b) PC – Assault with a semi-automatic firearm. Diaz was sentenced to nine years in state prison. This sentence is to run concurrent with his sentence for the LAPD case.
For additional information regarding this investigation, please contact Detective Ismael Tavera at 310-458-2256 or Lieutenant Aklufi at 310-458-8493
Media Contact
Erika Aklufi
Lieutenant
Erika.Aklufi@santamonica.gov