Claremont — 30-year-old Diego Alfonso Rios of Rancho Cucamonga died on November 28, 2025, after a traffic stop turned into a fatal police encounter, according to authorities with the Claremont Police Department.
Incident Details
At around 3:18 p.m., officers received two calls reporting a man who appeared to be acting erratically near Claremont Boulevard and Andrew Drive. Upon arrival, officers conducted a traffic stop and requested Rios step out of his vehicle. During the interaction, Rios allegedly behaved erratically, and law-enforcement officers responded in a use-of-force incident which officials have yet to detail what led to this. Rios became unresponsive during the struggle. Officers provided aid until Los Angeles County Fire Department personnel took Rios to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau is investigating the incident, while the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office Justice System Integrity Division is also monitoring the incident.
Legal Oversight and Use-of-Force Standards
In California, officers’ use of lethal force during a traffic stop like this must comply with California Penal Code § 835a, which allows deadly force only when an officer reasonably believes it is necessary to prevent imminent death or serious bodily injury.
Investigators will examine whether:
- The suspect posed an immediate threat of death or serious injury.
- Less-lethal alternatives or de-escalation tactics were feasible under the circumstances.
- Departmental policy and training protocols were followed properly.
If it is determined that force was unreasonable or unnecessary, impacted parties may have grounds for a civil-rights or wrongful-death claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
Seeking Accountability for Officer-Involved Shootings
If you witnessed this incident, were nearby, or are trying to understand your rights after a police use-of-force event:
1. Request Public Records
You may seek incident reports, officer statements, body-worn camera footage, patrol-vehicle dash-cam video, dispatch and 911 logs, forensic and medical examiner records, and all material gathered in the investigation.
2. Preserve Any Evidence You Possess
Document your exact time and location, what you saw or heard, any photos or video footage you captured, and your vantage point relative to the events.
3. Consult With a Civil-Rights Attorney
If you believe that lethal force was used unjustifiably, or that law-enforcement protocols were violated, legal recourse may be available.
If you or a loved one has been impacted by a police-involved shooting such as this one involving Diego Alfonso Rios, contact The Sehat Law Firm at (949) 825-5200 for a free consultation, or complete the contact form at the bottom of this page to discuss your case with our team.
Legal Disclaimer:
This article provides general information only and should not be considered legal or medical advice, nor does it create an attorney-client relationship. Laws vary, and any referenced here may not apply to your situation. This article was created from secondary sources and may not be completely accurate. If you have any concerns, please contact us, and we will update or remove the post as needed.
