Juan Arteaga Diaz, Nazario Ramirez Obituary, Death; Identities Released for Three Lake Los Angeles Shooting Victims
Juan Arteaga Diaz, Nazario Ramirez Obituary, Death – Three homeless individuals were tragically found shot to death in a vacant lot south of Lancaster, Los Angeles County, authorities confirmed Tuesday. The victims were discovered in an unincorporated desert area, highlighting the vulnerability of those living without stable housing.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Lancaster Station received a report of gunfire at approximately 4:48 p.m. Sunday near the intersection of 215th Street East and East Palmdale Boulevard. Initially responding to a single report, deputies quickly determined the situation involved multiple shooting victims. Upon arrival, law enforcement officers found three individuals seated in two vehicles, each suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Los Angeles County Fire Department personnel pronounced all three dead at the scene.
The victims have been identified by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office as Juan Arteaga Diaz, 44; Nazario Ramirez, 54; and Beverly Cassese, 65. Preliminary reports indicate that the victims were homeless, underscoring the dangers faced by people living on the streets, especially in remote or sparsely populated areas.
Investigators described the scene as a vacant lot scattered with tires, appearing to be near what could be a storage area for commercial trailers. News footage from the location showed a white sedan with bullet holes in the driver’s side window and a red SUV parked in front of a white trailer. The visual details of the vehicles and surrounding lot provided initial evidence for homicide detectives working to reconstruct the events leading to the shootings.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has urged anyone with information about the shootings to contact the LASD Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Those who wish to remain anonymous can reach out to Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or visit lacrimestoppers.org. Authorities emphasized that public assistance is critical in identifying potential suspects, establishing the motive, and bringing those responsible to justice.
Lt. Steven De Jong, a homicide detective with the Sheriff’s Department, confirmed that all three victims suffered multiple gunshot wounds, indicating a deliberate act of violence rather than an accidental shooting. Law enforcement officials are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, including whether the victims were targeted due to personal conflicts, opportunistic crime, or other factors. The investigation involves gathering witness statements, reviewing surveillance footage in the area, and examining physical evidence at the scene.
This tragic event has drawn attention to the risks faced by the homeless community in Los Angeles County, particularly in isolated areas where individuals may be more susceptible to violent crime. Authorities are emphasizing the need for community vigilance and cooperation to ensure that those responsible are held accountable and to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The deaths of Juan Arteaga Diaz, Nazario Ramirez, and Beverly Cassese mark a sobering reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by unhoused individuals and the ongoing challenges law enforcement faces in addressing violent crimes in both urban and remote areas.
