Two suspects were arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of a 17-year-old Parkland boy who was gunned down while walking his girlfriend home.
The arrests came Sunday, May 31, one week after Braylon Diaz was killed during what investigators describe as a robbery near Washington High School, the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to Puget Press.
According to the sheriff’s office, a 26-year-old woman was taken into custody by Tulalip Police Department at a Walmart in Tulalip around 11:30 p.m. Sunday. Detectives later responded to take custody of her.
A 25-year-old man identified as a homicide suspect had been arrested earlier that day by the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office and was also transferred into Pierce County custody, according to investigators.
Authorities said the investigation remains active and additional persons of interest have not yet been located.
Teen Killed While Walking Girlfriend Home
Diaz was shot and killed on the evening of May 24 near the 10200 block of Sheridan Avenue South in Parkland, as Puget Press reported.
The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office said Diaz and his girlfriend were walking near Washington High School before heading toward her home when a vehicle approached them around 7:15 p.m. The suspects called Diaz over, robbed him of jewelry, then shot him before fleeing the area.
Deputies responding to multiple 911 calls found the teen suffering from a gunshot wound in the roadway. Despite lifesaving efforts by first responders, Diaz died at the scene.
The killing shocked the community and sparked an outpouring of grief from family members and friends.
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‘They Were Going To Bake Cookies’
In a Facebook post, Diaz’s mother, Chelsea Diaz, described the moments leading up to the shooting. “They were walking to her house to go bake cookies,” she wrote.
The grieving mother also said her son’s girlfriend witnessed the attack. “Poor baby witnessed the whole thing,” Diaz wrote.
In another emotional post, she described the moment her family learned he would not survive. “I just watched my son die on the concrete from a gunshot wound to the chest,” she wrote. “They murdered my boy.”
Community Mourns Braylon
Friends and relatives remembered Diaz as a caring teenager with a bright future. “He was genuinely the sweetest kid,” family member Jennifer Luna wrote online. “We’re all devastated by this loss.”
His mother described him as a football player, soccer player, loving brother, uncle, and devoted boyfriend. “He was an amazing kid,” she wrote.
Mercedes Jameson said the tragedy has left many people struggling to make sense of what happened. “My heart is heavy and I’m still in shock how someone could have taken Braylon’s life,” she wrote. “He was the kindest soul and had such a bright light.”
A GoFundMe campaign to help the family with funeral expenses had raised over $30,000 by Monday, June 1.
Investigation Continues
Detectives continue to seek surveillance footage and information that could help further the investigation. The sheriff’s office previously asked residents and businesses within roughly five miles of the crime scene to review video recorded between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. on May 24.
Investigators believe potential evidence may exist in areas around Washington High School, Sheridan Avenue South, and Ainsworth Avenue South.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office.
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