Report: Lilburn Homicide Victim Pulled Into Driveway by Mistake

Lilburn police detectives continue to investigate a Saturday shooting on Hillcrest Road that resulted in the city's first homicide since 2005.

In the incident, 22-year-old Rodrigo Diaz, of Duluth, was shot in the driveway of 537 Hillcrest Road in Lilburn. Diaz was transported to Gwinnett Medical Center, where he later died from his injuries. 

He had been shot in the left side of his head with a .22-caliber revolver, according to police. He was pronounced dead at 6:10 a.m. on Jan. 27, while in the intensive care unit.

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He reportedly believed that someone was trying to enter his home unannounced.

According to a report released to Patch Tuesday, Diaz was driving with three friends when he arrived at Sailors' home on Saturday evening.

According to the victim's brother, David E. Diaz Valencia, the friends were trying to find the home of a friend of Diaz's girlfriend when they pulled into the wrong driveway by mistake.

In the police report, the friends said they were planning to go skating later that night.

According to Valencia, Diaz was one of four brothers and two sisters. Most are living in the Duluth or metro Atlanta area.

The family is originally from Colombia. The father has lived in Duluth for 10 years. Several other family members came to Duluth about seven years ago.

Diaz was studying auto mechanics at Gwinnett Tech, after changing majors from computer programming, according to his brother.

Valencia, whom Patch spoke with Tuesday, said funeral arrangements have not been made yet.

Lilburn Police Chief Bruce Hedley said the incident "was an unfortunate and tragic event" for all involved. 

Snellville attorney Mike Puglise, who is representing Sailors, could not be reached for comment.

--- Duluth Patch Editor Faye Edmundson contributed to this article. 

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