Baldwin Park Youth Pastor Fatally Shot in Pomona

By City News Service

A 33-year-old man was fatally shot when a gunman walked up and opened fire on the people inside a car this morning in Pomona, a police sergeant said.

The shooting took place about 12:45 a.m. near the intersection of Park and Mayfair avenues, Pomona police Sgt. Patrick O'Malley said.

There were originally four people in the car. The two remaining witnesses in the vehicle told Pomona police they had just dropped off a person near that intersection when the gunman walked up and opened fire inside the car without warning, according to O'Malley.

Daniel Diaz of West Covina was hit by the gunfire. The other people in the car started to drive him to a hospital when they hailed a police car near the intersection of Third and Thomas streets, O'Malley said.

That officer called paramedics and Diaz was transported to Pomona Valley Hospital where he was pronounced dead about 1:10 a.m., O'Malley continued.

A description of the gunman was not immediately available. A motive for the shooting was unknown.

Diaz was a youth pastor at New Beginning Community Ministry Church in Baldwin Park, according to media reports. City News Service contacted the church, but no one was available to speak. A check of the church's website indicated that Diaz and his wife Donna were acting as co-youth pastors. Condolences to the family for their loss were being posted on the church's Facebook page.

Anyone with information on this homicide was asked to call Pomona police detectives at (909) 620-2085. Tipsters can also call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477. All tips can be made anonymously.