Daniel Anthony Coriz, a 42-year-old Hispanic man, was a talented artist from a long line of celebrated jewelers. Though he lived in San Diego, California, his roots were in the Santo Domingo Pueblo, now known as Kewa Pueblo, in New Mexico. He came from a family of artists, learning the traditional techniques of jewelry making from his parents, Valentino and Nestoria Coriz. Daniel was multifaceted; before dedicating himself to his art, he had been a farmer, served in the U.S. Army Reserve, and worked as a registered nurse. He was known for his signature diagonal-channel inlay and for creating exquisite "treasure necklaces," intricate strands of hand-cut turquoise, coral, spiny oyster, and other stones. A father to two sons, he was passing on his family's artistic legacy to the next generation.
The night of Sunday, May 11, 2014—Mother's Day—ended a life dedicated to family and craft. Shortly after midnight, San Diego Police officers responded to reports of gunshots in the Jamacha-Lomita neighborhood. They arrived at the 1100 block of Koe Street, a residential area near Lemon Grove, to find Daniel Coriz lying outside a home. He had been shot once in his upper torso. Paramedics arrived at the scene, but his injury was fatal, and he was pronounced dead.
Witnesses described a sudden and brutal attack. Two men, their faces obscured by black bandannas, had approached Daniel. Both were dressed in black hooded sweatshirts and black pants. One of the men pulled out a gun and fired several rounds, striking Daniel before both assailants fled the scene. The San Diego Police Department's Homicide Unit launched an investigation, but with the suspects masked and gone, the case quickly grew cold. For years, there were no answers, and no arrests were made. On the one-year anniversary of the murder, San Diego County Crime Stoppers offered a $6,000 reward for information leading to an arrest, but the case remained unsolved.
For nearly a decade, Daniel's loved ones waited for justice. Then, in a major breakthrough, cold case detectives identified a suspect. On February 9, 2024, the San Diego Police Department announced the arrest of 50-year-old Sonny Estrada. At the time, Estrada was already incarcerated at the San Diego County Jail on unrelated charges. He was officially booked on one count of murder for the killing of Daniel Coriz. The arrest brought a new wave of attention to the long-unsolved case, though authorities did not immediately release details on what new evidence had led them to Estrada.
The subsequent legal proceedings revealed a painful truth: Daniel and his killer had once been friends. This detail emerged during the sentencing hearing from family members who were present. While the motive for the killing was not publicly disclosed, the revelation added another layer of tragedy to the senseless act of violence. In August 2025, more than eleven years after the murder, Sonny Estrada, then 52, accepted a plea deal. He pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter. A judge sentenced him to 10 years in state prison.
As of the latest reports in August 2025, one of the two men involved in the attack has been held accountable. However, police have not publicly disclosed whether the second suspect, who was also present on the night of the murder, has ever been identified or if the search for him continues. The San Diego Police Department Homicide Unit continues to encourage anyone with information to come forward and has previously listed tip lines at (619) 531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
