Man shot, killed when confronting car thief in northwest Indiana

A Gary man was shot and killed early Monday while confronting someone who stole his car from a gas station in northwest Indiana.

Victor M. Diaz, Jr., 44, was shot in the face about 5 a.m. after confronting the alleged thief in the 1300 block of Chase Street in Gary, Gary police and the Lake County coroner’s office said.

Police were called and found him in front of a home with a gunshot wound to his face, police said. He was still conscious.

Diaz died at 6:22 a.m. at Methodist Hospital in Gary, and his death was ruled a homicide, the coroner’s office said.

Diaz’s vehicle was recovered a short distance away on Clark Road, police said.

Police released photos of the vehicle wanted in the car theft. It was described as a red/maroon 4-door midsize SUV, possibly a Jeep Latitude.