Man arrested for attempted murder at Sunshine Inn

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Jose Antonio Diaz, Jr., 47, was arrested yesterday morning after allegedly shooting a man at the Sunshine Inn; according to officials, the victim may be permanently paralyzed.

At about 10:09 a.m. on Monday morning, Gainesville Police Department officers responded to the Sunshine Inn (4155 NW 13th St.) after receiving calls about “numerous” gunshots. When officers arrived, they reportedly found Diaz standing in front of one of the units, actively breaking the glass windows with his hands. Diaz was detained, and officers reportedly found a holster in the small of his back and “numerous” shell casings on the ground, along with a Taurus G3 9mm pistol.

Officers located a victim inside the unit with a single gunshot wound to his lower back. The victim was transported to a local hospital; the arrest report states that he is expected to survive, but he may be permanently paralyzed.

The victim reportedly said he was asleep in his apartment when he was shot in the back through the window.

A second victim reportedly said he was cooking in a different unit when Diaz approached his side window and broke the window screen. He said Diaz pointed a gun at him through the window and accused him of “cooking and eating his kids,” then walked away; he said he heard gunshots a short time later, and when he looked out his window, he saw Diaz kicking the first victim’s front door.

A witness reportedly said he was in his own apartment when he heard gunshots, went outside, and saw Diaz holding a pistol in front of the first victim’s apartment. He said he asked Diaz to give him the pistol, and Diaz did. The witness said he dropped the pistol in front of the first victim’s apartment when officers arrived.

A second witness reportedly said he was in his apartment when he saw Diaz walk by with a pistol in his hand. He said he saw Diaz shoot multiple times while standing in front of the first victim’s apartment.

A third witness reportedly saw Diaz come out of an apartment holding a pistol, then Diaz walked toward the first victim’s apartment, and the witness heard gunshots. That witness identified the shooter as “Jose.”

A fourth witness reportedly said he was sleeping in his apartment and woke up when he heard four gunshots. He said he opened his door and saw Diaz holding a gun; he said Diaz is his neighbor and has mental health issues. He said he heard Diaz yell “Vince!” twice before Diaz kicked the first victim’s window.

A fifth witness reportedly said he was inside his apartment when he heard three or four gunshots, opened his door, and saw Diaz holding a gun. He said he saw Diaz give the gun to a white male, then he saw Diaz break the first victim’s window and heard Diaz ask the first victim if he was okay.

Diaz reportedly told an officer that he had fired four rounds into the first victim’s apartment. Post Miranda, he reportedly said he left his apartment to go to the first victim’s apartment to shoot the first victim because he had heard people were being stabbed and killed in the area; he said that after shooting the victim, he asked him if he had “eaten” his “baby,” and the victim replied that he had not eaten Diaz’s baby. Diaz said he realized at that point that he “might have made a mistake.”

Diaz later reportedly said that he began hearing voices through the walls and TV over the past week.

Diaz has been charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, and attempted burglary of a dwelling. He has been in Alachua County for about eight years and is disabled; he has no criminal history. Senior Judge Aymer “Buck” Curtin ordered him held without bail, pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s Office to hold him without bail until trial.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.