Police confirm Cathedral City death as shooting homicide, identity of victim
On Wednesday night, the Coachella Valley lost Ramon Diaz, a beloved Jiu-Jitsu instructor in the martial arts community. Today, Cathedral City Police have officially confirmed the case as a homicide and victim as Diaz.
“On Wednesday, March 28, 2018, at 9:44 p.m., Cathedral City police officers were dispatched to assist Cathedral City paramedics, in the 31300 Block of Whispering Palms Trl. for a shooting victim,” reads the CCPD release. “The victim has been positively identified by the Coroner as 47-year-old Ramon Diaz, a resident of Cathedral City.”
It was initially released that the 46-year-old passed after suffering “trauma to the body,” and today, CCPD has confirmed that the death was the result of a shooting.
Cathedral City police did not have a suspect description available Friday, but said that Cathedral City detectives and forensic specialists from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department have collected evidence that is currently being analyzed.
Family members are trying to raise $10,000 for Diaz’s funeral costs.
“He always encouraged people to be a better version of themselves and enjoyed life,” a GoFundMe page created Thursday read. “He was an important person to the Jiu-Jitsu community, a husband, family man, instructor, overall someone very important and impactful to many people.”
To contribute to Diaz’s funeral costs, visit https://www.gofundme.com/5c28hog.
At the time of this publication, the campaign had raised $3,215 toward its $10,000 goal.
On Saturday, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu seminar will be held from 10-11 a.m., with an open mat period from 11 a.m.-1:00 p.m. with all proceeds going to the family of Ramon Diaz. The event will take place at Hurricane Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at 35688 Cathedral Canyon Dr #111, Cathedral City, CA 92234.
Anyone with additional information relating to this case is encouraged to contact Detective Barkley, or Sergeant Sanchez, at (760) 202-2488.
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