Juan Arteaga-Diaz, 44, was found shot to death on August 17, 2025, on a remote desert stretch of unincorporated Lake Los Angeles east of Lancaster. Deputies responded to reports of gunfire near 215th Street East and East Avenue Q around 4:45–4:50 p.m. and discovered three victims in two vehicles on or near a vacant lot dotted with commercial trailers and debris. The county medical examiner ruled Arteaga-Diaz’s death a homicide from multiple gunshot wounds; Nazario Ramirez, 54, and Beverly Cassese, 65, were also killed at the scene.

Investigators believe Arteaga-Diaz and Ramirez were traveling west on East Avenue Q when a gunman in another vehicle pulled alongside and opened fire into their car. Cassese was found in a separate vehicle nearby. Initial hours brought few public details about motive or any relationship among those involved while detectives worked to link the two scenes. Detectives detained a person of interest and then announced the arrest of 32-year-old Axel Trevino in connection with the shootings; prosecutors later charged Trevino with three counts of murder.

Does anyone have information about Arteaga-Diaz’s movements that afternoon or who might have been in the area around East Avenue Q on August 17?