When a boy in the Los Angeles suburb of Downey learned of the murder of LAPD officer Juan Diaz, he wanted to do something to pay tribute to him.
According to the Downey Parrot, six-year-old Arron Lomas works out at a mixed martial arts gym just a few blocks from the taco stand where Diaz was shot and killed by suspected gang members in late July.
Lomas approached the dojo's proprietor to ask if there was a way to hold an event at the facility, and together they came up with an idea to give away free backpacks to disadvantaged children in Diaz's honor.
Several mixed martial arts stars from the 10th Planet fight team helped give away the backpacks at The Yard Muay Thai Gym in mid-August.
"Wrestlers are problem solvers, we see a problem, and we are driven to fix it," said 10th Planet fight team manager Robert Rodriguez, a first-degree jiu-jitsu blackbelt and three-time All-American wrestler. "Aaron is a standout wrestler and he saw a community in mourning. He doesn’t care about his age or how big he is, he has a big heart and wants to help."
Rodriguez said on his Facebook page, "Aaron Lomas, The Yard Muay Thi, and 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu received an award for their Service to the Community. Today the Office of Los Angeles City Councilmember Gilbert Cedillo and the Office of Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard prested us with the awards. Little Aaron's hard work paid off today with the whole community coming out to support Officer Juan Diaz.
Image courtesy of Angela Lomas / Facebook.
