On a Sunday night in November 2017, a rap concert at the Masquerade club in Underground Atlanta turned into a scene of violence that claimed the life of 22-year-old Giovan Diaz. Diaz, along with his friend Ewell Ynoa, 21, had recently moved to Atlanta with aspirations in the entertainment business. During an intermission in the performance of rapper Cousin Stizz, both Diaz and Ynoa climbed onto the stage.
Another concertgoer, Jonathan Bautista, took issue with Diaz and Ynoa being on the
stage, leading to a heated argument. The confrontation escalated when Bautista drew a pistol and opened fire, fatally wounding both Diaz and Ynoa. Two other individuals were also injured in the shooting. The gunman fled the scene but was later identified by Atlanta police.
Following an investigation, authorities arrested 25-year-old Jonathan Bautista and charged him with two counts of murder. In 2022, Bautista pleaded guilty to lesser charges of voluntary manslaughter and received a 20-year prison sentence for his role in the deaths of Giovan Diaz and Ewell Ynoa.
In a subsequent civil lawsuit, a DeKalb County jury found Sony Music Holdings, among others, liable for failing to provide adequate security at the concert venue. The families of Giovan Diaz and Ewell Ynoa were awarded a significant verdict for the loss of their loved ones.
