Immigrant Left Work And Was Feet Away From Home When Suspects Killed Him. Who Was Responsible Remains A Mystery.

A Mexican immigrant had just left his job at a snow cone shop. The operation was a respite from the hot Houston sun. It was also Pedro Diaz’s piece of the American dream.

Diaz was on his way home shortly after 9 p.m. on June 20, 2014.

When Diaz stopped, two men rushed his car and killed him. Why remains a mystery, so does the identity of the people involved.

Years later, Houston police still hope to solve the cold-case killing.

Diaz had just let Azteca Chill Refreshments and was on Mill Stream Lane, just minutes from his home, according to Houston police.

He stopped at a sign and got out of his car for some reason. Then, at least two people approached and either tried to rob or carjack Diaz, police said. He was shot without provocation.

Houston police responded and found Diaz near his vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Witnesses reported hearing two gunshots and seeing at least two people running from the scene. But they haven’t been found more than eight years later. Houston police have not released suspect descriptions.

Police still hope to solve the killing and anyone with information is asked to contact (713) 308-3618.

Diaz’s daughter, Paula Sparks, told KHOU in 2018, the shop was her father’s piece of the American dream. He also worked for 30 years as a metro bus driver.

"He would always tell me, if you love what you do, you're not working," Sparks told KHOU.

Even years after the killing, the family spent their nights at the memorial erected in Diaz’s memory, KHOU reported. Sparks said she thought if the suspect killed her father, they might kill again.

"My oldest niece one day told me, 'I think God needed a funny bus driver in heaven,' and I said, 'Do you think so?' And she said, 'Yeah, because Grandpa was really funny, and he was a good bus driver,'" Sparks told the station.

But she still doesn’t know why someone targeted Diaz. Why someone wanted to kill the man who was so loved.

"It's like waking up every day to a nightmare,” Sparks told KHOU. “Knowing that my son will never know my dad.”