On January 6, 2019, Jose Joe Paul Diaz, listed in reports as Jose Joe Paul De Leon, was killed inside his Meridian, Idaho, home on West Charles Street. He was 47 and described as Hispanic. Authorities say 39-year-old Edward Lynn Epps Jr., the victim’s wife Heidi De Leon’s ex-husband, forced entry armed with two handguns and a violent confrontation followed. Jose was shot multiple times in a hallway as he tried to intervene while Heidi, 40, was later forced into a bedroom and shot multiple times as well.

Three children were in the house during the attack. A 13-year-old girl escaped to a neighbor to summon help; two younger girls, ages 10 and 11, were briefly held hostage but later released unharmed during a standoff that involved Meridian Police, the Ada County Sheriff’s Office, and Boise and Garden City police. The standoff ended when Epps died of a self-inflicted gunshot. The Ada County Coroner confirmed Jose and Heidi died of multiple gunshot wounds. Authorities indicated a pending child support court date between Epps and Heidi was a likely motive. If anyone knew the De Leon family or saw activity on West Charles Street that day, please share what was seen.