Family seeks $25 million claim after Phoenix police fatally shot Christian Diaz Rendon during January home invasion

A $25 million notice of claim filed after a January police shooting

The family of Christian Diaz Rendon has filed a $25 million notice of claim against the City of Phoenix and the involved police officer, a required step under Arizona law before a lawsuit can be filed against a public entity or employee. The filing follows a January 2026 police response to reports of gunfire at a home in southwest Phoenix, near 75th Avenue and Lower Buckeye Road.

Police leadership has publicly acknowledged Diaz Rendon was not the subject of the original emergency call. He was a resident who, during the incident, was trying to restrain an intruder inside the home when he was shot by an arriving officer.

What video and official statements describe about the shooting

In public accounts of the incident, the call for service began with reports that a man was shooting at a home and that gunfire had struck a family member. As officers arrived, they were directed toward the residence amid warnings that there were children inside and that someone was shooting.

In the notice of claim’s description of events, multiple people at the scene told the arriving officer that the suspect had been subdued and was on the ground. The claim states the officer aimed a rifle through an open doorway into a crowded living room, shouted an instruction to show hands, and fired about one second later. The single shot struck Diaz Rendon as he was on top of the disarmed suspect, holding him down. Diaz Rendon died at the scene.

Criminal case against the alleged intruder and parallel investigations

The suspect, identified in court reporting as Edgar Garcia, was later indicted in Maricopa County on multiple charges that include first-degree murder, burglary, kidnapping, disorderly conduct and counts related to discharging a firearm at a structure. Reporting on the investigation has described an argument escalating into gunfire outside the home and a forced entry.

Separate from the criminal prosecution of the suspect, the officer’s use of force is subject to multiple investigations, including an external criminal investigation by the Arizona Department of Public Safety and an administrative review by Phoenix police.

How the notice-of-claim process works in Arizona

Arizona law requires a notice of claim to be filed within 180 days after a cause of action accrues, stating sufficient facts for the government to understand the basis of liability and a specific dollar amount to settle. If the government does not respond within 60 days, the claim is treated as denied, clearing the way for a lawsuit to be filed within applicable deadlines.

• Claim amount stated by the family: $25 million
• Incident date referenced in public reporting: January 26, 2026
• Key procedural step: notice of claim before any civil lawsuit against the city or officer

Phoenix police leadership has issued a public apology to Diaz Rendon’s family and stated a commitment to transparency as investigations continue.

What happens next

The city’s response window to the notice of claim is governed by statute. Any civil lawsuit, if filed, is expected to focus on the officer’s decision-making and whether department policies, training, supervision, and tactics were followed during a rapidly evolving, high-risk call involving reported gunfire and a crowded home.