LOS ANGELES — An off-duty Los Angeles police officer was killed in a shooting in Lincoln Heights early Saturday. As of Sunday morning, the gunman was still at large.

The officer was identified as Juan Jose Diaz, 24. He last was assigned to the department’s Professional Standards Bureau, the Los Angeles Police Department said.

Tonight we gathered to honor a man who dedicated himself to our city—A man whose passion was LA. There were hugs & tears—but we held our heads high as we paid tribute to his dedication to something greater than himself. Tonight our HQ Facility is proud to have Juan front & center pic.twitter.com/9mRZVZfyQV — LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) July 28, 2019

Dozens of family, friends and fellow officers have gathered for a vigil in front of @LAPDHQ tonight to honor Officer Juan Diaz. The 24-year-old off-duty #LAPD officer was killed early this morning in Lincoln Heights. @KTLA pic.twitter.com/zNzEGddjAt — Carlos Saucedo (@Carlos_Saucedo) July 28, 2019

Diaz had been with the department for two years, according to the LAPD.

A civilian flagged down a Los Angeles Police Department motorcycle officer shortly before 1 a.m. Saturday to report a shooting in the area of Avenue 26 and Artesian Street, according to Assistant Police Chief Beatrice Girmala.

The officer called for backup officers, who responded to the scene and located two victims suffering from gunshot wounds, Girmala said. One victim, the off-duty officer, was pronounced dead at the scene, and the second victim was taken to a hospital in unknown condition, she said.

Today, we mourn the tragic murder of Police Officer II Juan Diaz. Officer Diaz was a dedicated public servant and Angeleno that put service to others above all else. The void his loss leaves within our ranks will not soon be filled. pic.twitter.com/YDseQQDTL3 — LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) July 27, 2019

A description of the shooter was not released.

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)

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)

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There is a massive LAPD presence early Saturday, July 27, 2019, at the scene in Lincoln Heights where off-duty Officer Juan Diaz was shot to death before 1 a.m. on the 2600 block of East Artesian Street. (Image from ABC7 video)



Officer Diaz was out with his girlfriend and two other males when he was shot, according to an official who had been briefed on the investigation but was not authorized to speak publicly.

Diaz was standing in line at the food truck with his girlfriend and two other males when he noticed a man vandalizing something nearby and approached him, the official said. The official did not know if Diaz identified himself as a police officer.

The man left and a short time later returned with a group of other males and lifted up his shirt to display a handgun, the official said. The official added that Diaz and the others tried to get into a vehicle to avoid violence but the man started shooting.

A source told The Associated Press that police believe the gunman is a member of the Avenues gang, which was the focus of the department’s investigation.

Another account said the incident involved vandalism.

“My understanding was there was some persons or person spray-painting a wall or something, committing an act of vandalism, and the officer — I don’t know what the conversation was — walked away, there was no altercation that I know of, and then later, the officer was walking to his car and this person or persons went up and shot him,” Craig Lally, president of the Los Angeles Police Protective League, told reporters at the scene.

See also: Slain LAPD officer honored at vigil

Saturday morning and into the late afternoon, portions of Avenue 26 remained closed to traffic to make way for an LAPD command post where investigators gathered.

The street was tangled in a web of yellow crime scene tape, residents of nearby apartments ducking and hopping over as they walked and biked to and fro.

Most were largely oblivious to the early morning carnage, sleeping through the sirens and buzz of helicopters, later waking up to news of the shooting and a flood of police officers.

Walking along Avenue 26 Saturday afternoon with a skateboard and T.S. Eliot poetry book in hand was Nicholas Blanc, 20 a third generation resident of Lincoln Heights who is familiar with gun violence.

“On my corner, there was a young boy, around 17 maybe, three years ago who got shot, just right outside my window, actually,” Blanc said. “Yeah, that corner is actually a hot spot for that kind of stuff. ‘Cause two years after, somebody else got shot – a woman who’s a nurse. I think that had to do with some gang.”

For local businesses, shootings in the area have also become an unfortunate norm.

“It sucks, and it’s shocking, and it’s so close. But unfortunately we live in an area where it’s not the most rarest thing,” said Yoshi Hisataka, a Muay Thai trainer who works at a martial arts school along Humboldt Street.

Despite the violence and the rapid gentrification of the area, Hisataka and Blanc have an appreciation for their neighborhood. They worry the shooting may impact the taco stand’s business, saying the stand draws crowds every night.

“Everyone loves the Avenue 26 tacos,” Hisataka said. “It’s becoming a spot, you know, people come here and chill and hang out.”

We mourn the tragic loss of a young officer killed in an act of senseless violence and ask for our community's support in finding his killer. — Chief Michel Moore (@LAPDChiefMoore) July 27, 2019

Police Chief Michel Moore was out of the country on Saturday but shared his thoughts on Twitter.

“We mourn the tragic loss of a young officer killed in an act of senseless violence and ask for our community’s support in finding this killer,” he wrote.

It is with a heavy heart that we can confirm the off-duty LAPD Officer has passed away as a result of the shooting. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones. — LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) July 27, 2019

Mayor Eric Garcetti also took to social media to express condolences on behalf of the city.

“Angelenos are waking to the tragic news that one of our own @LAPDHQ officers was taken from us in a senseless murder,” the mayor posted. “Words cannot match our sorrow or ease the shock we feel over this reminder of the dangers that officers face every moment they wear the badge.

Angelenos are waking to the tragic news that one of our own @LAPDHQ officers was taken from us in a senseless murder. Words cannot match our sorrow or ease the shock we feel over this reminder of the dangers that officers face every moment they wear the badge. — Mayor Eric Garcetti (@MayorOfLA) July 27, 2019

“This City will stand with the officer’s family every step of the way, and will not rest until we find and prosecute a vicious killer. My Crisis Response Team has been sent to comfort and assist the family at this moment of unthinkable grief.”

“Our hearts are with Officer Diaz’s family and friends,” the mayor said. “They are experiencing a loss that no one should have to suffer, under circumstances that outrage us all. My promise is that we will hold them close, stand with them every step of the way — and never tire until we find and prosecute the vicious criminals responsible for this horrific tragedy.

“I also want every Angeleno to be mindful of Officer Diaz’s brothers and sisters in uniform — they are coping with an unthinkable tragedy, while carrying forward a mission that drove him every day of his courageous career: protecting and serving our people with the honor, valor, and integrity befitting the memory of a fallen hero.

This is a procession I never want to be a part of ever again. It is a dark day for @LAPDHQ as we try to make sense of the senseless. The tragic murder of Police Officer II Juan Diaz hangs on every heart of every man and woman of the LAPD. pic.twitter.com/MSr6qHBzhK — Josh Rubenstein (@PDPIOJosh) July 27, 2019

“Words cannot match the depth of sorrow that Angelenos are feeling today. The senseless murder of Officer Juan Diaz is a shocking reminder of the dangers that LAPD officers face every moment they wear the badge, and the absolute courage and selflessness with which they uphold the oath each day.”

Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva tweeted: “My sincere condolences go out to the LAPD family for the tragic death of one of their officers. We are here to support our brothers and sisters @LAPDHQ in any way we can. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends. @LASDHQ.”

Around 9 a.m., a procession of police and other public safety agencies escorted the officer’s body along a roughly one-mile route to the Los Angeles County coroner’s office.

Staff writer Jonah Valdez and The Associated Press contributed to this report.