First Assistant Prosecutor Terence Hull said that the investigation is still ongoing concerning the murder of a Union City merchant in his store the morning of April 25.
Antonio Diaz, 58, the owner of Diaz Trading Store at the corner of 28th Street and Bergenline Avenue, was stabbed to death while opening his store between 9:30 and 9:45 a.m.
“There are some developments that we are working on,” said Hull.
No arrests have been made.
A great loss
“I was destroyed,” said Jorge Nunez, who owns Mega Mix Record Shop, just three stores down from Diaz’s Trading Store. “For me, [Diaz] was a marvelous friend and partner.”
“He knew everybody in the neighborhood,” said Edward Ochoa, whose father owns the electronic store next to Nunez’s record shop.
According to Hull, Diaz’s brother reported the incident after arriving at the store at 10:20 a.m. Hull said Diaz was found lying on his side next to a clothing rack that was knocked over in the middle of the store.
Hull said investigators believe Diaz was opening his store when his attacker either followed him in or arrived shortly after.
Hull said that Diaz was stabbed multiple times on the right side of his head.
According to Hull, there were signs of struggle inside the store and in the office in the rear of the store. Items throughout the store were knocked over or broken, and blood was found on the cash register and in other locations.
Diaz ran his store for more than 20 years with his two brothers.
“Everybody used to go there,” said Ochoa. “Diaz grew up in the neighborhood. We all did.”
Feeling safe
Although nothing like this has ever happened on this block before, storeowners in the area say it has never been safe.
“This area has never been safe, and it has just gotten worse,” said Ochoa. “What good is having the police across the street if people still die? This could have happened to anyone on the block.”
After the murder that took place last week, many storeowners are taking more precautions when opening their stores in the morning.
“I always open my store late,” said Nunez. “I have always been careful. It just doesn’t seem safe anymore.”
“This is the first time in years this has happened,” said Ochoa. “There have been robberies [in the area], but nothing as violent as this. No one seems safe around here any more.”