The Sleepy Lagoon murder case refers to the 1942 killing of a young man named Jose Diaz near the Sleepy Lagoon reservoir in Los Angeles, California. The case gained notoriety due to its connection to the Zoot Suit Riots and the broader tensions between Mexican American youth and law enforcement during that era. In the aftermath, a group of Mexican American teenagers, known as the 38th Street Gang, were arrested and charged with the murder, despite a lack of solid evidence. The trial was marked by racial prejudice and media sensationalism, leading to widespread protests and highlighting issues of discrimination in the American legal system.