The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office asked for anyone that has information to come forward on Tuesday.
PARKLAND, Wash. — Investigators with the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office announced Thursday they found a car that was involved in the robbery and fatal shooting of a 17-year-old boy in Parkland on Sunday.
The car was found in Federal Way. According to Pierce County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Carly Cappetto, “This finding has launched us forward in identifying suspects of interest.”
On Sunday, Pierce County sheriff’s deputies responded to reports of a seriously wounded person in the 10200 block of Sheridan Avenue South in Parkland around 7:13 p.m.
The victim, a 17-year-old boy identified as Braylon Diaz, suffered a gunshot wound. Medical responders performed CPR, but he died at the scene. Police initially reported he was 16.
According to Cappetto, Braylon was walking with his 16-year-old girlfriend when a vehicle drove up and surprised them. His girlfriend, Katelyn Zuniga, said the occupants were interested in Braylon’s necklace. She said he gave it up willingly before he was shot.
On Wednesday, KING 5 spoke with Braylon’s father, Brock, as he said goodbye to his son at the growing memorial.
“I want no parent, nobody should go through that,” he said. “Not even the way it happened. I mean, that was horrific. Nobody should go through that. It should be me first. I’m supposed to be old, he takes care of me and he takes care of me and he puts me into the ground. Not this way.”
Brock said he was talking to his son less than an hour before Braylon was shot.
“I never even got a chance to touch him or look at him. The next time I saw him he was in a bag. It was tough for all of us to do that. We couldn’t even touch him.”
“I don’t know, twenty, forty minutes got a phone call. Worst phone call of my life,” he said.
Braylon’s girlfriend was on the other end of the line, explaining what happened.
Cappetto said there are multiple outstanding suspects. The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office asked people not to approach vehicles they do not recognize.
Katelyn said she saw four people in a red four-door car she did not recognize. Investigators have not confirmed suspect details or released descriptions, but they said the attack appears to have been random.
“This was a true victim tonight,” Cappetto said.
Meanwhile, friends and family gathered at a growing memorial throughout the day Monday.
“He was just the sweetest soul,” Katelyn told KING 5.
Braylon was a junior at Washington High School. He planned to join the military after graduation. People close to him said he enjoyed soccer and was a dedicated student.
“He protected me in his last few seconds … he always cared about me,” Katelyn said.
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