A Marina man was sentenced Wednesday to 50 years to life in state prison for the fatal shooting of a Huron woman in 2023, the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office said in a statement.

Andrew James Leon, 21, received 25 years to life for first-degree murder, plus an additional 25 years to life for using a firearm causing death, stemming from the killing of April Luna Valdez-Diaz, 37, outside her Huron residence.

The sentence was imposed by Fresno County Superior Court Judge Alvin Harrell III following a jury verdict on Oct. 17, 2025. The jury found Leon guilty of first-degree murder and confirmed the firearm enhancement. In court, Harrell described the case as “one of the most egregious set of facts I’ve ever presided over.”

Statement From Victim’s Daughter

Several victim impact statements were read in court, including a statement from Valdez-Diaz’s daughter: “My mother, April Diaz, should not have been taken from us in this way. She deserved dignity, protection, and peace. She deserved to live, and the person responsible for her death must be held fully accountable — not just for the act itself, but for the lifetime of suffering he has caused everyone who loved her.”

The shooting occurred Nov. 26, 2023, days after Thanksgiving, when Leon traveled from Marina to Huron to confront his then-girlfriend, prosecutors said.

Valdez-Diaz intervened, and Leon opened fire, striking her 11 times. He fled the scene, and Valdez-Diaz later died from her injuries. Leon claimed self-defense, but the jury rejected the claim.

At the time of the murder, Leon was on felony probation for a prior weapons-related conviction in Monterey County.

Because he was under 25 when the crime occurred, he may be eligible for a Youthful Offender Parole hearing. However, eligibility does not guarantee release, the DA’s office said.

—

Connect with Anthony W. Haddad on social media. Got a tip? Send an email.