Julio Angel Osife Diaz, a 22-year-old Arizona man, was shot and killed at a Phoenix gas station early morning July 18 during an altercation with a stranger, police said. The shooting occurred just hours after Osife Diaz had been celebrating his birthday.
Background
Phoenix police responded to the gas station near 16th Street and Thomas Road shortly before 2:30 a.m. on July 18 after reports of a shooting. Officers arrived to find Osife Diaz suffering from a gunshot wound. Paramedics transported him to a local hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
The suspect, identified as Jaheime Rashard Brown, 21, remained at the scene and was detained by officers following the shooting, according to Phoenix police spokespersons.
Family members told Fox affiliate KSAZ that Osife Diaz had spent the evening celebrating his birthday before heading to his uncle's house. He stopped at the gas station when the fatal encounter occurred while he was protecting his girlfriend, relatives said.
"He loved to play basketball. He was very family-oriented. He's very traditional," Osife Diaz's mother, Bianca Vilasto, told the television station. "He would never cause harm onto anybody. He was just starting his life."
The Investigation
Detectives with the Phoenix Police Department's homicide unit determined that Brown approached Osife Diaz at the gas station and confronted him. An argument ensued before Brown allegedly fired the fatal shot, authorities said. Investigators confirmed the two men had no prior relationship and the confrontation appeared to be unprovoked.
Brown was taken into custody at the scene without incident following the shooting. He has been charged with second-degree murder and is being held at the Maricopa County Jail pending further court proceedings.
"We are still piecing together what led to this confrontation," a police spokesperson said during a press briefing. "What we know is that these individuals did not know each other prior to this incident."
Key Takeaways
- Julio Angel Osife Diaz, 22, was shot and killed at a Phoenix gas station shortly before 2:30 a.m. on July 18
- The shooting occurred hours after Osife Diaz had been celebrating his birthday with family
- Police say Osife Diaz was defending his girlfriend when he was shot by a stranger
- Jaheime Rashard Brown, 21, has been charged with second-degree murder
- Detectives determined the two men did not know each other before the deadly encounter
- Brown remained at the scene and was detained by officers following the shooting
What's Next
Brown is awaiting arraignment in Maricopa County Superior Court. The case remains under active investigation as detectives continue to gather evidence and interview witnesses. Prosecutors have indicated they will pursue the second-degree murder charge, while Osife Diaz's family has publicly stated their desire for justice.
"I just hope that we find justice," Vilasto said through tears in her interview with KSAZ. "I'm never going to be able to walk and hear my son come out of his room and say, 'Good morning, mom.'"