WSVN — He was a good man and a loving father, but one day some very bad men ended his life, all for a piece of jewelry. As Patrick Fraser tells us on tonight’s Out for Justice, Miami-Dade detectives are hot on the trail of the killers, but they need your help to make an arrest.
Enrique Diaz was the kind of person you liked to be around, the kind of person who enjoyed life.
Rosalia Coto: “He loved music and jokes, movies. He loved the family.”
Enrique, or Henry as his family called him, was the father of four kids, but his life ended when he pulled up in front of his house in June 2010.
Miami-Dade Police Detective Maria Mederos: “Enrique Diaz, we believe, was targeted for his jewelry.”
Henry was wearing a gold chain around his neck. Two black males had followed him home to steal it.
Detective Maria Mederos: “And during the struggle to get the gold chain off of the victim, there was a small struggle which, once they shot the victim, the struggle was over.”
Henry’s mother, Rosalia, was around the corner at the mailbox when she heard a shot.
Rosalia Coto: “‘Bang!’ And I say, ‘Oh my God, this is close of us.'”
She ran to find her son laying on the ground, told him he would be OK, then kissed him on his forehead.
Rosalia Coto: “He open his green eyes and look at me and smiled.”
Rosalia dialed 911. Henry’s brother had seen the gunmen running away and jumped into his truck..
Detective Maria Mederos: “He was able to follow the vehicle involved in this robbery. But he was also shot at, at which time he stopped following the vehicle.”
The two suspects and their driver got away. Henry was rushed to the hospital, but passed away. And another person died that day, but they didn’t bury her: Henry’s mother, Rosalia.
Rosalia Coto: “And when this happened, your life change. No more happiness, no more Christmas, no more Mother’s Day. Everything change.”
Rosalia’s hope now, that they catch the suspects, and it’s very possible. After being chased by Henry’s brother eastbound on the Palmetto and then northbound on I-95, they abandoned their getaway car.
Detective Maria Mederos: “Even though we know who owns the car and who had access to the car, we need a little bit more of information to be able to make arrests, and we’re looking to arrest all three.”
Also while being chased, they fired four or five shots at Henry’s brother, creating more witnesses.
Detective Maria Mederos: “And we’re hoping that somebody did see what was going on and will come forward.”
Bottom line: Detectives have a decent idea who the three black men are who murdered Henry Diaz.
Detective Maria Mederos: “This was an innocent victim. He was hunted for his jewelry. He has a loving family, and the individuals responsible for this are very violent and have no regard for life.”
Rosalia Coto: “Every time I go to the cemetery, I promise him, ‘Henry, we’re going to find who did it.'”
Once a week, Rosalia goes to the cemetery to talk to Henry. Hopefully, after her Out for Justice story airs, she will go there to tell him the three criminals who took his life were caught.
Rosalia Coto: “I believe in the justice, and I believe that somebody’s going to call and let us know something that is going to help to find out what happened.”
If you know this SUV, chances are you know who was in it on June 28th, 2010 that evening. Pick up the phone and call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. They don’t want your name, just your information.
And if you have lost a loved one and want to remind people you are still out for justice, give us a call. With this Out for Justice, I’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.
CONTACT OUT FOR JUSTICE:
Miami-Dade: 305-598-HELP (4357)
Broward: 954-796-HELP (4357)