Sleepy Lagoon murder
1942 Los Angeles murder case
About
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.
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Bell, California
City in California, United States
1.1 mi away
Maywood, California
City in California, United States
0.9 mi away
Commerce, California
City in California, United States
1.1 mi away
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Outlet mall in Commerce, California, US
1.4 mi awayLos Angeles (Maywood) Assembly
Former Chrysler assembly plant in Commerce, California, USA
1.0 mi awayPlaces to eat nearby
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