Christian Diaz Rendon’s family has filed a federal lawsuit after a Phoenix police officer shot and killed him inside his South Phoenix home in January.
Rendon, 36, and his family had called 911 on Jan. 26 after their landlord’s son, Edgar Ledezma Garcia, arrived armed and began shooting. Rendon restrained Garcia while they waited for officers. Officer Jason Valenzuela then saw Rendon holding Garcia in a chokehold and punching him through the front door, shouted a command to show his hands and fired a rifle shot less than a second later, killing Rendon.
Family members and friends who witnessed the shooting filed the suit Sept. 29 in the District of Arizona against Phoenix, Valenzuela and other unnamed responding officers. The plaintiffs include Rendon’s children and his domestic partner, Mariana Gonzalez. Their attorney, David Chami, argues that Valenzuela did not allow Rendon time to respond to the command or establish whether he was the person who had prompted the emergency call.
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