On April 23, 2023, at approximately 2:30 a.m., Riverside County Sheriff's deputies responded to reports of a shooting in the 25000 block of Joshua Avenue in Moreno Valley, California. Upon arrival, they discovered 44-year-old Giovanni Ibarra of Azusa lying on the street with a fatal gunshot wound. Despite paramedics' efforts, Ibarra was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators determined that Ibarra had been involved in a confrontation with 38-year-old David Diaz of Los Angeles.
During the altercation, Diaz allegedly produced a firearm and shot Ibarra before fleeing the scene. Detectives identified Diaz as the primary suspect and tracked him to the Otay Mesa area near the Mexican border in San Diego County. He was arrested without incident on April 24, 2023.
Diaz, a convicted felon with a prior criminal record, was charged with murder, firearm assault, and additional sentencing enhancements related to the use of a firearm causing great bodily injury. He was held at the Robert Presley Jail in Riverside on $1 million bail. During his arraignment, Diaz pleaded not guilty to all charges. A felony settlement conference was scheduled for August 18, 2023, at the Riverside Hall of Justice.
As of the latest available information, the motive behind the confrontation and subsequent shooting remains undisclosed by authorities. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding Ibarra's death is ongoing.
