By Mark Vester
The boxing community in San Diego, California, is still trying to recover from Wednesday's rampage by boxing trainer Mark Diaz, who at one time trained Danny Perez. Shortly after 9pm on Wednesday, Diaz allegedly walked into Pacific Coast Boxing on North Santa Fe Avenue and opened fire with a handgun. He killed trainer Hector Gil Sr., 52, and shot trainer Peter Moreno, 56, in the shoulder and 21-year-old super featherweight boxer Ricardo Gutierrez, who was scheduled to have his second pro fight at the end of this month, in the leg. Both Moreno and Gutierrez lived.
According to numerous reports, Diaz was fired from the gym in February and grew jealous that many of his young fighters were leaving him to train under Gil. He showed up at the gym without warning and opened fire.
Hector Gil Jr. told several news outlets that Diaz began issuing threats in the direction of his father when fighters began to cross over. The owner of the gym had to file a restraining order against Diaz. Eyewitnesses told police that Gil Sr. jumped in the path of incoming bullets while trying to protect other young boxers in the gym.
"He started threatening my dad that he was going to punch him, that he was going to kill him," Gil Jr. said. "I hope he gets life in prison."
Gill will be buried in Mexicali, where he boxed as a teenager.
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