WORCESTER, MA — A man who had been on the run for several years following a Worcester shooting was arrested in Texas earlier this month by U.S. Marshals and found in possession of multiple firearms and body armor, authorities said.
In 2019, brothers Jose A. Diaz and Kenneth J. Diaz were indicted and arraigned in connection with a shooting at Wonder Cuts Barber Shop, located at 260 Lincoln St. Two armed men entered the barbershop on June 21, 2019, and opened fire, according to Assistant District Attorney Timothy A. Westerman.
During the shooting, Rawin Peralta, a barber at the shop, was shot three times, officials said.
Kenneth Diaz was scheduled to go to trial in 2022, but authorities were unable to locate him at the time.
“In that time, several agencies, including the Worcester Police Department, have attempted to locate Diaz but had been unsuccessful,” the Worcester Police Department said in a press release.
In November, officials received new information regarding Diaz’s whereabouts. U.S. Marshals in Houston later identified a man believed to be Diaz in the company of a woman.
On Dec. 3, U.S. Marshals entered the woman’s residence and took Diaz into custody. At the time of his arrest, Diaz was found with several firearms and body armor, authorities said.
Members of the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office returned Diaz to Massachusetts on Dec. 17 so he could appear in court. He is expected to return to court on Jan. 5.
Officials credited the arrest to cooperation among multiple agencies.
“The arrest of Diaz most likely would not have happened if it were not for the collaborative efforts and information sharing between the Worcester Police Department, the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office, the Massachusetts State Police, and the U.S. Marshals Service,” authorities said in a statement.
In a related case, Jose Diaz pleaded guilty in 2024 to multiple charges, including assault to murder. He was sentenced to approximately five years in prison, with 582 days credited for time served. He is currently being held at the Northeastern Correctional Center.
