In the early morning hours of a December Monday in Gary, Indiana, 44-year-old Victor Diaz Jr. became the victim of a fatal carjacking. The incident unfolded around 5 a.m. at a gas station in the 1300 block of Chase Street. After his vehicle was stolen, Diaz gave chase, leading to a confrontation where he was shot in the face. He was transported to Methodist Hospital, where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries on December 16, 2019.
The stolen vehicle was recovered a short time later on
Clark Road. In the days following the shooting, investigators released surveillance footage to the public in an effort to identify those responsible. A break in the case came when a Gary police officer on patrol noticed a vehicle matching the description of the one involved in the homicide committing several traffic violations. The officer attempted to initiate a traffic stop at 15th and Burr streets, but the driver fled.
A pursuit ensued, which ended when the suspect vehicle crashed into a gas station at 25th Avenue and Burr. The occupants then attempted to flee on foot. One of the subjects was immediately apprehended by the officer, and with the assistance of other arriving officers, five more individuals were quickly taken into custody. All of the suspects were identified as juveniles and were brought in for questioning in connection with both the auto theft and the homicide of Victor Diaz.
