With profound sadness and heavy hearts, family, friends, and members of the Phoenix, Arizona, community are mourning the heartbreaking loss of Julio Angel Osife Diaz, 22, whose life ended following a tragic shooting early Saturday morning at a central Phoenix gas station.
According to the Phoenix Police Department, officers were called at approximately 2:30 a.m. on July 18 to the area of 16th Street and Thomas Road after receiving reports of a shooting.
Police said witnesses reported that two men were involved in an argument before one of them fired a weapon at the other. When officers arrived at the scene, they found Julio suffering from gunshot injuries.
Emergency responders with the Phoenix Fire Department provided medical assistance and transported Julio to a nearby hospital. Despite the efforts of medical personnel, he later succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased.
Authorities identified the victim as 22-year-old Julio Angel Osife Diaz.
Investigators said a 21-year-old man approached officers at the scene and told them he was involved in the incident. The man was detained and later arrested. According to police, homicide detectives determined through witness statements and additional evidence that the suspect approached Diaz and confronted him before the argument escalated, resulting in the fatal shooting.
The firearm believed to have been used in the deadly shooting was recovered at the scene, police said. The suspect was booked on a charge of second-degree murder. Authorities said the suspect and Diaz were not known to each other prior to the incident, and the suspect’s name has not been released.
Julio’s sudden passing has left an unimaginable void in the hearts of his family, friends, and loved ones. His life was tragically cut short, leaving those who knew him to grieve a loss that words cannot fully describe.
As the Phoenix community mourns, loved ones are remembering Julio for the moments they shared with him, the memories he created, and the impact he made on the people around him. Although his life ended far too soon, the memories and love he leaves behind will continue to live on.
During this difficult time, thoughts, prayers, and condolences are being extended to Julio’s family and everyone affected by this heartbreaking tragedy.
Rest peacefully, Julio Angel Osife Diaz. Your life mattered, your memory will endure, and you will never be forgotten.
