It took police about a day to find the two men they say gunned down a Clayton County 13-year-old over five bucks and a truck that wouldn’t start.
WSB’s Richard Sangster was there as police processed the two suspects at the Clayton County jail and charged them with murdering Steven Galindo Diaz.
Sangster reports Gilberto Gomez, 18, confessed to shooting Diaz. He also gave up his alleged accomplice Sergio Alvear, 18. Both men are from Forest Park. Clayton County police told Sangster they started moving in on the suspects around 6 p.m. Wednesday and made an arrest a few hours later.
Galindo was shot and killed Monday night after police say two gunmen approached him and Diaz and his sister Samaria at the Bradford Ridge apartments where they live.
Samaria Diaz said she gave the robbers the $5 she had on her. They snatched her chains off her neck and took the keys to her 1994 Chevy truck.
When it wouldn't start, Diaz said the robbers started shooting up the truck and shooting in her and her brother's direction. That's when she realized her brother had been hit.
A day later, the pain of losing him hasn't gone away. "I'm still in shock. I kind of got to the point where I can't even cry no more," she said.
Sangster reports the suspects, who police think might be part of a gang, wanted the truck because it has gold winged doors on it like a Lamborghini.
Samaria Diaz said all the support and love her family has received is helping ease the pain. Dozens of people have stopped by and dropped off money, food and candles at a growing memorial to Steven at the spot where he died. Some of Steven's classmates stopped by and it was touching as they got down on their knees and prayed.
A group of classmates of Steven's brother came by and announced a fundraising effort at the Chick-fil-A in Forest Park.
"We want to help the family because from what we heard about Steven he's a great kid and he had a great future," student Leslie Paz said.
"Our hearts go out to the family," Abigail Dixon said.
Steven's family announced a viewing will be held Thursday for the rising eighth-grader at the Atlanta Mortuary Service Inc. at 3234 Dogwood Drive in Hapeville. A funeral is planned for Friday at the Mission San Felipe de Jesus Church at 925 Conley Road in Forest Park.
