Christian Diaz Rendon: Family Sues Phoenix Over Police Shooting

The family of Christian Diaz Rendon, a 36-year-old Phoenix, Arizona homeowner who was shot and killed by a police officer while he held down an armed intruder, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the officer, his supervisors and the City of Phoenix. Phoenix news outlets reported the filing between October 7 and October 9.

Diaz Rendon died on January 26, 2026, at a home near 75th Avenue and Lower Buckeye Road. Police later confirmed he was not the suspect officers had been sent to find. Prosecutors declined to charge the officer in April, and the family has now taken the case to civil court, asking for a jury trial.

Who Was Christian Diaz Rendon?

Diaz Rendon was a father and a homeowner in west Phoenix. His partner, Mariana Gonzalez, has spoken publicly for the family since his death. At a news conference in May she called him a kind, caring and loving man, according to Arizona's Family.

His stepson, Jarvis Rosas, said Diaz Rendon stepped in to care for the family when no one else was there to do it, KTAR News reported. Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell, whose office reviewed the shooting, has described his actions that night as heroic.

What Happened in West Phoenix on January 26?

According to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office, Edgar Ledezma Garcia fired at a home near 75th Avenue and Lower Buckeye Road on Monday, January 26, 2026, then forced his way inside and shot a person in the house. The office describes the area as Laveen; local stations call it west Phoenix.

Callers told 911 dispatchers that someone was shooting at the house and that children were inside, FOX 10 Phoenix reported. Court records cited by Arizona's Family say Diaz Rendon tackled the intruder and tried to hold him down until officers arrived. Police have said he had disarmed the man.

Phoenix police said the first officer on the scene was pointed toward the home by people outside and saw a struggle at the open front door. That officer, identified by police as Jason Valenzuela, gave a command to show hands and fired. Diaz Rendon was struck and died at the scene. Garcia was not seriously hurt, Arizona's Family reported.

What Does the Lawsuit Say?

Arizona's Family reported on Wednesday, October 7, that the family filed the wrongful death lawsuit on September 29. It names Officer Valenzuela, his supervisors and the City of Phoenix, and asks for compensation and a jury trial.

KJZZ, which reported on the filing on Friday, October 9, said the lawsuit alleges the officer fired within one second of giving his command and did not give Diaz Rendon a chance to respond.

The lawsuit follows a notice of claim the family filed on February 12 seeking $25 million. In Arizona, a notice of claim is a required step before suing a public agency. FOX 10 Phoenix reported that the claim said a resident told the arriving officer the intruder was already on the ground.

The claims in the lawsuit are allegations that have not been tested in court. The reports reviewed for this article did not include a response from the city to the filing. Arizona's Family has previously reported that the Phoenix Police Department does not comment on pending litigation.

Was the Officer Charged?

No. On Thursday, April 30, Mitchell announced that her office would not prosecute Valenzuela. "I am not filing charges against Phoenix Police Officer Jason Valenzuela," she said, according to Arizona's Family.

Mitchell said the officer reasonably believed other people were in imminent danger, and that prosecutors could not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that his actions were a crime under Arizona law.

The Arizona Department of Public Safety carried out the criminal investigation of the shooting, KTAR reported. As of April 30, Phoenix police said a separate administrative investigation into whether the officer broke department rules was still under way.

One week later, on May 7, the family and their attorney, David Chami, asked Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes to step in. Chami said the officer should face a negligent homicide charge. The reports reviewed for this article did not describe any charging decision by the attorney general's office.

What Police Have Said

Phoenix Police Chief Matt Giordano apologized to the family in February and said the man who was shot was not the suspect in the emergency call. Arizona's Family reported that he promised transparency and accountability once the investigations were finished.

The department has released body-camera and home surveillance video from that night, according to KTAR.

Who Is Charged With Murder in the Case?

On February 9, the Maricopa County Attorney's Office announced an 11-count indictment against Edgar Ledezma Garcia. The counts include first-degree murder, first-degree burglary, kidnapping, discharging a firearm at a structure, aggravated assault and disorderly conduct.

The murder count is brought under Arizona's felony murder law, which allows a first-degree murder charge when a death occurs during a dangerous felony, even if the defendant did not fire the shot. Garcia is accused only; he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Diaz Rendon's family has objected to that charge. At the May news conference, Gonzalez asked the county attorney not to prosecute Garcia for the death of her partner. "Do not exacerbate this injustice with another injustice," she said, according to Arizona's Family.

What Happens Next

The civil case now moves through the courts, where the city and the officer can answer the family's claims. The reports reviewed for this article did not give a hearing date. The criminal case against Garcia is a separate proceeding.

Timeline of the Christian Diaz Rendon Case

Frequently Asked Questions

Was the Phoenix officer charged in Christian Diaz Rendon's death?

No. Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell announced on April 30, 2026, that Officer Jason Valenzuela would not be charged. The family later asked the Arizona attorney general to intervene.

Who is the family suing?

The wrongful death lawsuit, filed September 29, 2026, names Officer Jason Valenzuela, his supervisors and the City of Phoenix. It asks for damages and a jury trial.

Is anyone charged with murder?

Edgar Ledezma Garcia, the man accused of the home invasion, was indicted on 11 counts including first-degree murder under Arizona's felony murder law. He is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

MotiveX covers cases like this in documentary form on YouTube.

Sources

• Arizona's Family (KTVK/KPHO): report on the family's wrongful death lawsuit
• KJZZ: report on the lawsuit and its allegations
• Prensa Arizona: report on the lawsuit (Spanish)
• Maricopa County Attorney's Office: news release on the indictment of Edgar Ledezma Garcia
• Arizona's Family: county attorney's decision not to charge the officer
• Arizona's Family: family asks the attorney general to intervene
• KTAR News: report on the charging decision and the investigations
• KTAR News: family news conference
• FOX 10 Phoenix: report on the family's $25 million notice of claim
• FOX 10 Phoenix: report on the county attorney's announcement
• Arizona's Family: notice of claim and police chief's apology