On August 13, 2023, a tragic incident occurred in Highland Park, Illinois, resulting in the death of 16-year-old Omar Diaz from Highwood. The incident took place around 11:30 a.m. in the 2300 block of Green Bay Road, where Diaz was walking on the sidewalk. He was approached by another individual, later identified as Estiven Sarminento, also 16 years old and a resident of Highland Park.
According to the investigation, Diaz and Sarminento were acquaintances who had been involved in an ongoing dispute. On the day of the incident, Sarminento approached Diaz, and after a brief conversation, he pulled out a gun and shot Diaz. Witnesses described the offender as a male dressed in all black, who initially was believed to have fled the scene on a bicycle but later was determined to have likely fled on foot.
Highland Park police officers, firefighters, and paramedics responded to the scene, where they found Diaz unresponsive. Despite attempts to administer Advanced Life Support, Diaz was transported to Highland Park Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. An autopsy conducted by the Lake County Coroner’s Office confirmed that Diaz died from a gunshot wound.
The investigation involved the Lake County Major Crimes Task Force and Highland Park police detectives. They utilized recovered evidence, interviews, and video surveillance to identify Sarminento as the shooter. A crucial piece of evidence came from a friend who witnessed the shooting over a Snapchat call and helped police identify Sarminento.
Estiven Sarminento was arrested on Monday, August 14, 2023, and charged as an adult with two counts of first-degree murder. His bond was set at $5 million during his first court appearance on Tuesday, August 15, 2023.
The incident had a significant impact on the local community, particularly Highland Park High School, where Diaz was a student. In response to the tragedy, the school district announced increased security measures, including the implementation of a weapons detection system and an increased police presence on the first day of school, which was Wednesday, August 16, 2023.
