On September 16, 2019, at approximately 4:01 a.m., Riverside Police Officers responded to a reported shooting in the 900 block of West La Cadena Drive in Riverside, California. Upon arrival, they discovered Emilio Espinoza, a 24-year-old resident of Riverside, suffering from a gunshot wound. Despite the efforts of paramedics from the Riverside Fire Department, Espinoza succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
The Riverside Police Department’s Robbery-Homicide Unit, along with specialists from the Forensics Unit and the Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office, immediately took over the investigation.
The investigation quickly led officers to a nearby apartment where they believed the suspect might have fled. Although the SWAT Team searched the residence, the suspect was not found. However, with the continuous efforts of the Gang Intelligence Unit and the METRO Team, detectives were able to identify and locate the suspect later that day. At around 7:00 p.m., METRO Officers attempted to stop the suspect, Tyler Allen Diaz, a 28-year-old resident of Riverside, in a vehicle on Martin Luther King Boulevard and the 215 Freeway. Diaz failed to yield, leading officers on a 20-minute pursuit through Riverside, Grand Terrace, and Rubidoux. The chase ended when Diaz collided with another vehicle on the 60 Freeway, causing his car to become disabled. He attempted to flee on foot but was quickly apprehended by METRO Team officers.
Tyler Allen Diaz was arrested and booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center on charges of murder and felony evading a peace officer. He was held without bail as the investigation continued. The Riverside Police Department urged anyone with additional information to come forward, emphasizing the ongoing nature of the case. This tragic incident highlighted the swift and coordinated efforts of multiple law enforcement units to apprehend a suspect and seek justice for the victim, Emilio Espinoza.
