A tragedy has unfolded in Phoenix, Arizona, after police officers responded to a call regarding an armed home intruder. Upon arrival at the scene the officers shot and killed Christian Diaz, whom they evidently believed to be the perpetrator. Sadly, this was not the case.
Police were called after an intruder with a gun allegedly broke into Diaz’s family home in Phoenix. The officers were met outside by Diaz’s wife and neighbor, Sonya Rodriguez. The wife explained to the officers that her husband was holding the intruder down and warned them to be careful when they entered. Rodriguez explained to Fox 10 what went down.
“He asked her ‘what happened?’ and she said, ‘There’s the person that was shooting inside, and my husband is holding him.’ So she said, ‘Be careful, because my husband is holding him,’ and it was within seconds that the policeman came inside, and he shot the husband.”
Despite her warnings the cops immediately began shooting and unfortunately struck Diaz in the jaw as he was holding the intruder down. The man’s son, Carlos Recinos explained that “They mistook him for the shooter.” Diaz was able to crawl through to the living room before bleeding out from his injuries.
The consequences of the shooting
Unfortunately, mistakes from police officers and the law in general are all too common. So far there has yet to be any confirmation from Phoenix police as to whether it was an officer’s bullet that killed Christian Diaz, however, the family are distraught over their loss. “Sorry doesn’t bring back my dad,” stated Jarvis Rosas Gonzales, one of Diaz’s other sons.
On TikTok Jarvis posted the aftermath of the botched police work showing smashed glass all over the floor. In the background someone can be heard hysterically crying.
In the caption, Jarvis gave a little more background information on the intruder, explaining that the intruder was the landlord’s son. He clarified that his parents had a good relationship with the landlord and that he had apologized for his son’s behavior, who apparently suffers from “mental disorders and schizophrenia.”
Jarvis called for justice for his father, claiming that the officers failed to listen to his mother’s pleas and as a result, shot the wrong man. In the comments, viewers argued that the police should not have been so quick to use lethal force in the first place, “their job is to arrest, not kill.” wrote one person. Others advised getting the bodycam footage as soon as possible in case the police conveniently lose it.
While the details of the incident have yet to be confirmed, it seems Christian Diaz’s death may have been completely avoided had the officers shown more restraint and not jumped to lethal force, at least that’s how Diaz’s family see it.
Published: Jan 30, 2026 11:31 am