Sleepy Lagoon murder

Uncommon card · No. 196409

The Sleepy Lagoon murder was the 1942 death of José Gallardo Díaz, a young Mexican-American man who was found dying near a reservoir in Commerce, California, on August 2, 1942. The name Sleepy Lagoon murder was used by the Los Angeles newspapers to describe it. The case became a flashpoint for racial tension and injustice in Los Angeles. Sleepy Lagoon was a reservoir beside the Los Angeles River, located in the city of Maywood - approximately what is now 5400 Lindbergh Lane in Bell, though some sources cite the location as 5500 Slauson Avenue. Popular among Mexican-Americans in the early 1940s, the reservoir got its name from the popular song "Sleepy Lagoon" recorded in 1942 by big band leader and trumpeter Harry James. On the night of the incident, Díaz was attending a party hosted for Eleanor Delgadillo Coronado. After the party, Díaz left with two friends, Luis "Cito" Vargas and Andrew Torres. Shortly after, he was confronted by a group of young men from the 38th Street neighborhood...

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