A story for every victim

Daniel Anthony Diaz, 33

Daniel Anthony Diaz (2013-11-11)

Daniel Anthony Diaz, a 33-year-old Latino, was fatally shot Monday, Nov. 11, in the 1700 block of South Park Avenue in Pomona, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

About 12:45 a.m., a man walked up to a car that Diaz and three other people were in, according to the Pomona Police Department. The people in the car had just dropped off a friend when the man started shooting, police said.

Diaz was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 1:14 a.m., according to coroner’s records.

Diaz was a beloved youth minister at New Beginnings Community Church in Baldwin Park. His parents founded the church, and his sister worked there as well.

“My son was an incredible young man, and he helped a lot of people,” Daniel Diaz said.

A description of the shooter has not been released. The killing came one day after hundreds of people gathered in the football stands of Ganesha High School in Pomona to pray for an end to violence in the city.

Friends and family members said Diaz was also working for change. He worked with at-risk youth as a mentor.

“He thought it was very important to reach out to them. Those are the ones you have to reach first, to get them at a young age,” said Lynna Moreno, a church congregant. “He knew how to talk to them. Youths were drawn to him. Even though they were a little rebellious, sooner or later it sunk into them.”

Boys he mentored were distraught over the killing, calling him a big brother figure.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the Pomona Police Department at (909) 620-2085. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

-- Joseph Serna and Ari Bloomekatz

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