On Veterans Day, ACLU of Puerto Rico Demands Justice for Daniel Maldonado Díaz, Killed During Police Intervention

San Juan, P.R. – On Veterans Day, the American Civil Liberties Union of Puerto Rico (ACLU of Puerto Rico) renewed its call for justice for Daniel Maldonado Díaz, a 42-year-old U.S. Army veteran who died after being shot by a Puerto Rico Police officer while experiencing a mental health crisis at his home in Utuado.

As part of this call for justice, the organization released a video featuring the testimony of Nilda Margarita Díaz Huertas, Daniel’s mother, who witnessed her son’s death on May 26, 2025. Her testimony highlights the devastating impact of police violence on families and the need to ensure that interventions involving individuals experiencing mental health crises respect life, human dignity, and constitutional rights. When the person in crisis is a veteran, police officers are required to comply with General Order 628, which establishes the protocol officers must follow. In this case, that protocol was not followed.

“The same bullet that he fired into my son’s heart struck mine, too. He killed my heart as well,” Nilda said in the testimony released by the ACLU of Puerto Rico.

In May 2026, coinciding with the first anniversary of Daniel’s death and Memorial Day, the ACLU of Puerto Rico filed a civil rights and damages lawsuit on behalf of his mother and sister, Carmen Jarmín Maldonado Díaz. The case is currently in the discovery phase, during which the parties gather and exchange evidence related to the events and alleged rights violations.

Daniel died on May 26, 2025, when Sergeant Julio C. Nieves Rosado shot him in the chest during a police intervention at his home in the Nueva neighborhood of Utuado. The lawsuit alleges that officers made no attempt to establish a dialogue with the veteran before using deadly force. The family maintains that Daniel was unarmed and did not resist when he was shot in the presence of his sister.

Veterans Day must also serve as a reminder that those who have served in the military retain the full protection of their civil and constitutional rights. In Puerto Rico, veterans have the right to be treated with dignity, to access appropriate physical and mental health services, and to be protected against excessive use of force by law enforcement. Experiencing a mental health crisis does not diminish those protections.

“For generations, thousands of Puerto Ricans have participated in armed conflicts, enduring physical and emotional consequences that persist long after they return home. Beyond recognizing veterans on a designated day, the government has a responsibility to ensure their access to physical and mental health services, protect their dignity, and fully respect their civil and constitutional rights,” said attorney Annette Martínez Orabona, executive director of the ACLU of Puerto Rico.

The lawsuit filed by the ACLU of Puerto Rico alleges that the officers’ actions violated rights protected under the Puerto Rico Constitution, the U.S. Constitution, and federal civil rights law. Among the defendants are Police Commissioner Joseph González Falcón and Sergeant Nieves Rosado, both sued in their official and individual capacities.

In addition to seeking compensatory and punitive damages, the lawsuit asks the court to order the Government of Puerto Rico and the Puerto Rico Police Bureau to comply with the general orders established under the Police Reform and to create an interdisciplinary team of trained professionals to respond to mental health crises.

“It is unacceptable for a veteran experiencing a mental health crisis to be met with deadly force by the very authorities entrusted with protecting his life. Daniel Maldonado Díaz deserved care and protection, not a bullet to the chest. His family deserves justice, and Puerto Rico needs answers and concrete changes to prevent a tragedy like this from happening again,” said attorney Fermín Arraiza Navas, legal director of the ACLU of Puerto Rico.

The organization has repeatedly warned about the consequences of responding to mental health crises through police interventions that unnecessarily resort to force. Daniel’s case adds to a series of incidents that have raised serious questions about the Puerto Rico Police Bureau’s protocols, training, and accountability.