Gathering in Van Nuys Ends in Murder NR12165cj

April 9, 2012

Los Angeles: On April 8, 2012, around 7:25 p.m., a group of men were gathered at an apartment in the 14600 block of Friar Street in Van Nuys.  During the gathering, two men, one of them 43-year-old Tito Diaz, were allegedly passing a handgun back and forth between them.  Soon after, two shots were fired and the man Diaz was with was struck and killed by the gunfire.

Detectives say that Diaz and another man, 25-year-old William Jimenez, attempted to dispose of the slain victim by leaving the body in a dumpster.  The two men were later apprehended near the scene of the crime by police, and a weapon was also recovered.  Diaz was booked at Van Nuys Jail for murder and held on $1 million bail.  Jimenez was also booked as an accessory to murder and held for $500,000.  The identity of the victim is being withheld until notification of family.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to call LAPD Van Nuys Detectives J. Nuttall or M. Martinez at 818-374-0040.  During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247).  Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477).  Tipsters may also contact Crime Stoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on “webtips” and follow the prompts.