The body of Mercer student Daniel Diaz-Delgado was found dead on the banks of the Assunpink Creek in Hamilton on March 24. According to authorities, when the body was recovered Diaz-Delgado had his hands tied behind his back and his face wrapped with duct tape. He had gunshot wounds to the head, torso and leg, according to a press release from the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office.
Diaz-Delgado was 20-years-old and was studying Engineering at Mercer.
An article by Rebecca Everett on nj.com says that divers from the Trenton Fire Department spent around two hours recovering evidence from the scene. Additional reports indicate that several bags of evidence were removed from the crime scene.
When asked whether the police had any leads, Olga Diaz, Delgado-Diaz’s mother, told The VOICE in an interview given in Spanish and translated by VOICE Editor-in-Chief Maria Ramos, “They do [have leads], but they told me not to talk about it.”
Casey DeBlasio, a public information officer with the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office says there is no indication that the death was the result of a hate crime.
Christian Hernandez, a close friend of Diaz-Delgado’s, said of his disappearance, “What the mom told me was when they came back around 4, about 5:30, he said he was going to set out to buy something for his little brother. His little brother told me that he might have been down around PA or Philly or Cherry Hill, but how he ended up in Hamilton, it’s just weird to me.”
Olga Diaz says she got worried when her son didn’t text her, as he never stayed out late. She says she went to hospitals and the police station when he didn’t return home, but because she’s a non-native English speaker she had difficulty communicating her problem.
The Intervarsity Christian Club at Mercer, in which Diaz-Delgado was heavily involved, organized a remembrance ceremony for their friend on March 29. At the memorial friends described Diaz-Delgado warmly, reflecting on his kindness and good nature.
Denise Mosquera, who says she knew Diaz-Delgado since they were in seventh grade, told The VOICE, “He wanted to make everyone feel included. If you had a bad day he would always make you feel better…He always kinda took care of you, you know?”
Jonathan Zahn, another friend of Diaz-Delgado’s through their shared love of martial arts, said, “There were different hard times in my life, just as there are different hard times in his where like, I struggled with being suicidal and like a couple of our other friends as well, like we struggled with being suicidal and he helped pull us off of that ledge.”
Jonathan Chan, who has known Diaz-Delgado his whole life since they were in daycare together, said of him, “His life wasn’t the easiest. You know he was always struggling with something at home or school or whatever the case may be, but he would always show positivity. He would always try to keep going, no matter what the problem was or the situation he was in.”
Zahn spoke of Diaz-Delgado’s passion for martial arts. “Martial arts, especially taekwondo, ATA [American Taekwondo Association], the community that was one of the other family outlets, like…he has his family, and he has family from martial arts,” he said.
He also said of his friend, “No matter how many obstacles were in his way, he overcame every single obstacle in only ways he could.”
On Diaz-Delgado’s Facebook page, which has been turned into a memorial, is a picture of him and his little brother from 2015 following a martial arts tournament.
The caption reads, “On Saturday, it was my little brother’s first tournament!!! He didn’t place but me and my parents are still proud of his performs and that’s what’s more important!”
Zahn told The VOICE, “He was big on family. He was always there for his brother. his brother looked up to him like a superhero.”
Mosquera also mentioned Diaz-Delgado’s love for his family. “He left behind a little brother that he loved so much, and that he was always taking care of in the sense that he would always make him feel included wherever he went, like his little brother always came along.”
In addition to martial arts and his family, Diaz-Delgado was also involved in the church.
Zahn said of Diaz-Delgado’s involvement, “That was one of Danny’s other visions. He wanted to help reach out to people through his faith, through religion and all.”
Following the announcement of Diaz-Delgado’s death, Mosquera and other friends set up a GoFundMe page to help pay for his funeral costs.
She said, “I just wanted to help his family alleviate the cost of going through a tragic event.”
She added that within 17 hours the page had already raised $1,360.
In addition to the warm remembrances, Diaz-Delgado’s friends say they feel a sense of frustration.
Zahn said, “It makes no sense…it makes no logical sense. He had no enemies. He had no one he ever hurt. It would almost feel better if the story was different. If he did have an enemy there would be a different type of closure.”
Chan said, “He was never doing anything bad, and I would know because I was always with him. He would always tell me everything.”
Diaz-Delgado’s mother told The VOICE, “I want justice for my son and God is good.”
The day Diaz-Delgado was found was the same day that marches against gun violence were taking place across the nation. The fact that Diaz-Delgado was lost to gun violence was not lost on his friends.
Mosquera told The VOICE, “I think, I honestly think that this should be the last straw. Danny’s death should not just be another name thrown out in the wind and be forgotten. I think that it should stop here.”
She added, “Danny should be the last case that is affected by gun violence. And I don’t know what my friends and I are going to do, how we’re going to get the community, or even if it’s just five people marching outside the State House. We will be there. We will be chanting the names that have been lost to gun violence, not just Danny, but everyone’s name.”
Police ask that anyone with information about the incident call Sgt. Gary Wasko or Detective Michael Castaldo at (609) 989-6406.
