Man arrested in fatal road-rage shooting jumps out of hospital window, victim's family says

Andres Diaz, 57, faced second-degree murder charge

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – A 57-year-old man who was arrested in the fatal shooting of an all-terrain vehicle rider in southwest Miami-Dade died this week, relatives of the ATV rider told Local 10 News.

Jose Mastrapa, who is close with the family of the ATV rider, said they were informed by detectives that Andres Diaz had leaped from a window on Monday.

Diaz's attorney confirmed that his client died the following day at Palmetto General Hospital in Hialeah.

"If this was a suicide, it was selfish of Diaz to do what he did and to deprive the family of their day in court," Mastrapa said.

Police said Diaz shot Ricky Iglesias, 43, in the chest Aug. 28 in the area of Southwest 197th Avenue and Southwest 192nd Street.

According to an arrest report, Iglesias was driving north on his Kawasaki ATV with his girlfriend in the southbound lane of Southwest 194th Avenue after having sustained a flat tire to the front right wheel of the ATV.

Diaz, who was a passenger in a black Dodge Journey being driven by his wife, Ketty Dominguez, 45, was heading south on 194th Avenue when his wife had to swerve out of the way of the victim's ATV in an effort to avoid a head-on collision, the report said.

Police said Dominguez and Iglesias exchanged obscene words, and Iglesias continued driving north.

According to detectives, Diaz told his wife to turn their car around, and she pulled up to Iglesias, who had pulled over near the intersection of Southwest 194th Avenue and 192nd Street.

Detectives said Dominguez again exchanged heated words with Iglesias, drove about 50 yards away, made a U-turn and began slowly driving back toward the victim.

At that point, the couple saw Iglesias holding a green glass bottle as they were heading toward him, the report said.

Police said Diaz rolled down his window and told Iglesias, "Don't do it. I have a gun."

Police said Iglesias walked toward the passenger side door and continued to argue with Diaz, at which time Diaz pulled out his gun and fired one shot at Iglesias' chest.

"This was a senseless, completely senseless shooting," Mastrapa said.

Police said Diaz called 911, but neither he nor his wife tried to help Iglesias before authorities arrived.

Iglesias was pronounced dead at the scene.

Cellphone video provided to Local 10 News shows a bystander trying to help Iglesias, who is seen gasping for air.

Diaz and his wife are seen walking nearby, talking on a cellphone.

"Neither he nor his wife showed any remorse for what they had just done," Mastrapa said. "I think anyone else would have ran to Ricky's side and helped him out."


About the Authors:

Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.