A man and a woman have been arrested in connection with the killing of 17-year-old Braylon Daniel Diaz, the Washington High School junior who was shot and killed during a robbery in Parkland last week while walking with his girlfriend.
The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that a 26-year-old woman was arrested Sunday night at approximately 11:30 p.m. by Tulalip Police Department officers at a Walmart in Tulalip. A 25-year-old man who had been with her earlier in the day was taken into custody separately by Snohomish County Sheriff’s deputies. Both suspects are facing charges of first-degree murder, first-degree robbery, and drive-by shooting.
Braylon was killed on Sunday, 24 May, while walking with his girlfriend on Sheridan Avenue in Parkland when a vehicle approached and someone inside called him over. The suspects robbed him of jewellery, shot him, and fled the scene. Deputies responding to reports of a shooting victim lying in the road attempted life-saving measures upon arrival, but Braylon died at the scene. His girlfriend witnessed the attack.
Braylon’s stepmother, Chelsea Diaz, described a boy whose instinct was always to protect the people he loved. “He was a great kid. He was just two when he came into my life and I met him. He’s the most sweetest, loving kid ever. He would never confront anybody. The only reason he would walk close to that car would be to protect his girlfriend,” Chelsea said. Braylon’s girlfriend, Katelyn Zuniga, who was beside him when he was killed, said his final moments were entirely consistent with who he was. “He protected me his last few seconds. He was always a protector. He always cared about me. He didn’t hang around those types of people. He was the biggest nerd I knew. He cared so much about school,” Zuniga said.
Deputy Carly Cappetto of the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office asked the community to keep both families in their thoughts. “People need to understand we have two families that are hurting right now,” Cappetto said. “The fact that this was a very young man whose life was taken, obviously the girlfriend had witnessed that.”
Braylon’s family has set up a GoFundMe campaign to cover funeral costs and support the family in the period ahead.
