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3 arrested in LAPD officer’s shooting death

by in News

LOS ANGELES — The LAPD on Friday announced the arrests of three primary suspects wanted in the killing of LAPD Officer Juan Diaz.

The arrests came as authorities continued conducting investigations in the Mt. Washington area of Los Angeles and in the city of Murrieta in Riverside County that reportedly involved the probe into the shooting death of an LAPD officer in Lincoln Heights nearly a week ago.

“Early this morning, we served several warrants in connection with the murder of Officer Juan Diaz last week,” the Los Angeles Police Department said in a statement. “Thank you to our law enforcement partners, including Murrieta PD for their assistance today.”

  • Officer Juan José Diaz’ memorial at LAPD Headquarters in Los Angeles on Wednesday, July 31, 2019. Diaz was killed while off-duty in Lincoln Heights after visiting a taco stand. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

  • Officer Juan José Diaz’ memorial at LAPD Headquarters in Los Angeles on Wednesday, July 31, 2019. Diaz was killed while off-duty in Lincoln Heights after visiting a taco stand. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

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  • Tom Haggerty, of California Floral, delivers flowers for Officer Juan José Diaz’ memorial at LAPD Headquarters in Los Angeles on Wednesday, July 31, 2019. Diaz was killed while off-duty in Lincoln Heights after visiting a taco stand. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

  • Police officers tow a truck during an investigation into the killing of a fellow officer in the Lincoln Heights area of Los Angeles on Saturday, July 27, 2019. Authorities said off-duty Officer Juan Diaz was out with his girlfriend when he was shot and killed at a taco stand early Saturday. Another man was hospitalized from the shooting. Chief Michel Moore has asked for the public’s help in finding the attacker. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

  • Police officers investigate the killing of a fellow officer in the Lincoln Heights area of Los Angeles on Saturday, July 27, 2019. Authorities said off-duty Officer Juan Diaz was out with his girlfriend when he was shot and killed at a taco stand early Saturday. Another man was hospitalized from the shooting. Chief Michel Moore has asked for the public’s help in finding the attacker. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

  • Los Angeles police Officer Juan Diaz was shot to death early Saturday, July 27, 2019, while off-duty in Lincoln Heights. (Photo courtesy of LAPD)

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The early morning actions were taken by members of the Los Angeles Police Department’s SWAT team and Metropolitan Division, according to NBC4, which reported that a raid in Mt. Washington took place about a mile from the scene where the killing occurred.

Diaz, 24, was fatally shot early Saturday morning after he confronted a group of taggers near a taco stand while he was off duty in the area of Avenue 26 and Artesian Street.

Law enforcement sources told NBC4 that the raid in Murrieta took place in a neighborhood where one of the suspects had been tracked earlier this week.

Diaz had been assigned to the Special Operations Division unit of the Professional Standards Bureau, or internal affairs, though all indications were that the shooting was unrelated to his secretive work, law enforcement sources told NBC4.