Domestic Violence Suspect Shot On 101 Freeway Standoff Identified

LOST HILLS, CA — A domestic violence suspect shot to death in Lost Hills by a Ventura County Sheriff's Deputy and a California Highway Patrol officer at the end of a vehicle pursuit on the Ventura (101) Freeway was publicly identified Monday by the L.A. County coroner's office.

Dimas Diaz Jr., 43, was a Santa Barbara resident, coroner's Lt. Larry Dietz said.

Paramedics were dispatched at 11:20 a.m. Saturday to the scene on the southbound freeway north of Las Virgenes Street for a "possible DOA," Capt. Ron Singleton of the Los Angeles County Fire Department said.

Los Angeles County sheriff's homicide detectives were summoned to the scene to help investigate an officer-involved shooting, Deputy Armando Viera Jr. said.

"Detectives have learned that Ventura County Sheriff's Department initiated a pursuit in the city limits of Camarillo of a spousal-assault suspect," Viera said. "The suspect was driving a reported stolen vehicle."

The California Highway Patrol took over about 20 minutes into the pursuit, he said. As the pursuit continued southbound on the Ventura Freeway, the suspect crashed the vehicle.

"A standoff ensued, which lasted approximately 50 minutes when the suspect exited the vehicle at which time an officer-involved shooting occurred," Viera said. "The shooting involved one Ventura County Sheriff's Deputy and one California Highway Patrol officer."

The man was pronounced dead at the scene, Viera said.

Both sides of the freeway were shut down at Las Virgenes Road, and drivers were advised to avoid the area as many stalled motorists who were already on the freeway watched the drama play out.

The north side of the Ventura Freeway was re-opened at about 1:30 p.m. Saturday, but the southbound side remained closed for the investigation until Sunday morning.

City News Service; Photo: Shutterstock