Topline: A Parkland teen was shot and killed after handing over his necklace during a robbery, and the alleged getaway driver is now charged with murder while the suspected gunman remains at large.
Published: June 4, 2026 10:00 am ET
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via GoFundMe
PIERCE COUNTY, WA — Alyssa Marie Vaught-Barr, 26, was charged Tuesday in the death of 17-year-old Braylon Diaz, who investigators say was shot at close range on the evening of May 24 after a sedan pulled up as he and his girlfriend walked home.
Charging documents say Braylon and his girlfriend, Katelyn Zuniga, were walking to her home from Braylon’s father’s house when the car approached them. A person in the rear passenger seat told Braylon to come closer, but he refused. Court records say that passenger then told Vaught-Barr to reverse the car so they could get closer to the couple, and she did.
According to the charging documents, the rear passenger demanded Braylon’s necklace. Braylon told Zuniga to stay back and handed over the necklace. Prosecutors say the passenger took it and then shot Braylon in the abdomen at close range before the car sped away as Zuniga called 911.
According to KING 5, the suspected shooter has been identified by investigators as 21-year-old Brandon Torres-Mesa. Authorities have issued a warrant charging him with aggravated first-degree murder, first-degree murder and unlawful possession of a firearm, and police said he had not been arrested as of Tuesday.
Detectives canvassed the area after the shooting and gathered surveillance footage of the vehicle. Investigators also collected video from Parkland residents, including one home camera that showed the people inside the car coming and going, according to the charging papers.
A relative of one of the people in the car later told investigators that Vaught-Barr had been the driver at the time of the shooting. Detectives also compared photographs of Vaught-Barr with the woman seen in the security footage, court documents state.
Police later found Vaught-Barr’s vehicle abandoned in Federal Way. Charging documents say papers inside the car included the names of Vaught-Barr and her boyfriend, and cellphone data placed both Vaught-Barr and the suspected shooter at the location of the shooting.
On May 27, Vaught-Barr called police and acknowledged that she had been driving during the encounter, according to the charging documents. She also identified the shooter by name and said she did not know what he intended to do. She told police she tried to get out of the car to help Braylon after the gunshot, but said the shooter pulled her back inside, struck her, and forced her to drive him to Federal Way.
Investigators said Vaught-Barr also claimed nobody else had been inside the vehicle, a statement detectives said conflicted with witness statements and security video.
Vaught-Barr and her boyfriend were arrested early June 1 while driving in Snohomish County. Detectives said they found a written statement in the vehicle that appeared to be a prewritten guide for what Vaught-Barr planned to say about the earlier phone interview, along with another note investigators believed outlined a plan moving forward.
Detectives also recovered a 9 mm firearm and clothing they say matched what people in the car were wearing in portions of the surveillance footage. Investigators said it appeared the pair were in the process of moving or relocating.
Vaught-Barr pleaded not guilty and remained jailed Tuesday on $1 million bail. Her boyfriend was separately charged as a fugitive out of Oregon, where authorities say he is wanted on criminal mischief, burglary and aggravated theft charges. He has not been charged in Braylon Diaz’s killing.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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‘Come Closer’: Teen’s Deadly Encounter Began With Chilling Request
A Parkland teen was shot and killed after handing over his necklace during a robbery, and the alleged getaway driver is now charged with murder while the suspected gunman remains at large.
By Silvia Torres
Published: June 4, 2026 10:00 am ET
via GoFundMe
PIERCE COUNTY, WA — Alyssa Marie Vaught-Barr, 26, was charged Tuesday in the death of 17-year-old Braylon Diaz, who investigators say was shot at close range on the evening of May 24 after a sedan pulled up as he and his girlfriend walked home.
Charging documents say Braylon and his girlfriend, Katelyn Zuniga, were walking to her home from Braylon’s father’s house when the car approached them. A person in the rear passenger seat told Braylon to come closer, but he refused. Court records say that passenger then told Vaught-Barr to reverse the car so they could get closer to the couple, and she did.
According to the charging documents, the rear passenger demanded Braylon’s necklace. Braylon told Zuniga to stay back and handed over the necklace. Prosecutors say the passenger took it and then shot Braylon in the abdomen at close range before the car sped away as Zuniga called 911.
According to KING 5, the suspected shooter has been identified by investigators as 21-year-old Brandon Torres-Mesa. Authorities have issued a warrant charging him with aggravated first-degree murder, first-degree murder and unlawful possession of a firearm, and police said he had not been arrested as of Tuesday.
Detectives canvassed the area after the shooting and gathered surveillance footage of the vehicle. Investigators also collected video from Parkland residents, including one home camera that showed the people inside the car coming and going, according to the charging papers.
A relative of one of the people in the car later told investigators that Vaught-Barr had been the driver at the time of the shooting. Detectives also compared photographs of Vaught-Barr with the woman seen in the security footage, court documents state.
Police later found Vaught-Barr’s vehicle abandoned in Federal Way. Charging documents say papers inside the car included the names of Vaught-Barr and her boyfriend, and cellphone data placed both Vaught-Barr and the suspected shooter at the location of the shooting.
On May 27, Vaught-Barr called police and acknowledged that she had been driving during the encounter, according to the charging documents. She also identified the shooter by name and said she did not know what he intended to do. She told police she tried to get out of the car to help Braylon after the gunshot, but said the shooter pulled her back inside, struck her, and forced her to drive him to Federal Way.
Investigators said Vaught-Barr also claimed nobody else had been inside the vehicle, a statement detectives said conflicted with witness statements and security video.
Vaught-Barr and her boyfriend were arrested early June 1 while driving in Snohomish County. Detectives said they found a written statement in the vehicle that appeared to be a prewritten guide for what Vaught-Barr planned to say about the earlier phone interview, along with another note investigators believed outlined a plan moving forward.
Detectives also recovered a 9 mm firearm and clothing they say matched what people in the car were wearing in portions of the surveillance footage. Investigators said it appeared the pair were in the process of moving or relocating.
Vaught-Barr pleaded not guilty and remained jailed Tuesday on $1 million bail. Her boyfriend was separately charged as a fugitive out of Oregon, where authorities say he is wanted on criminal mischief, burglary and aggravated theft charges. He has not been charged in Braylon Diaz’s killing.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
‘Come Closer’: Teen’s Deadly Encounter Began With Chilling Request
A Parkland teen was shot and killed after handing over his necklace during a robbery, and the alleged getaway driver is now charged with murder while the suspected gunman remains at large.
By Silvia Torres
Published: June 4, 2026 10:00 am ET
via GoFundMe
PIERCE COUNTY, WA — Alyssa Marie Vaught-Barr, 26, was charged Tuesday in the death of 17-year-old Braylon Diaz, who investigators say was shot at close range on the evening of May 24 after a sedan pulled up as he and his girlfriend walked home.
Charging documents say Braylon and his girlfriend, Katelyn Zuniga, were walking to her home from Braylon’s father’s house when the car approached them. A person in the rear passenger seat told Braylon to come closer, but he refused. Court records say that passenger then told Vaught-Barr to reverse the car so they could get closer to the couple, and she did.
According to the charging documents, the rear passenger demanded Braylon’s necklace. Braylon told Zuniga to stay back and handed over the necklace. Prosecutors say the passenger took it and then shot Braylon in the abdomen at close range before the car sped away as Zuniga called 911.
According to KING 5, the suspected shooter has been identified by investigators as 21-year-old Brandon Torres-Mesa. Authorities have issued a warrant charging him with aggravated first-degree murder, first-degree murder and unlawful possession of a firearm, and police said he had not been arrested as of Tuesday.
Detectives canvassed the area after the shooting and gathered surveillance footage of the vehicle. Investigators also collected video from Parkland residents, including one home camera that showed the people inside the car coming and going, according to the charging papers.
A relative of one of the people in the car later told investigators that Vaught-Barr had been the driver at the time of the shooting. Detectives also compared photographs of Vaught-Barr with the woman seen in the security footage, court documents state.
Police later found Vaught-Barr’s vehicle abandoned in Federal Way. Charging documents say papers inside the car included the names of Vaught-Barr and her boyfriend, and cellphone data placed both Vaught-Barr and the suspected shooter at the location of the shooting.
On May 27, Vaught-Barr called police and acknowledged that she had been driving during the encounter, according to the charging documents. She also identified the shooter by name and said she did not know what he intended to do. She told police she tried to get out of the car to help Braylon after the gunshot, but said the shooter pulled her back inside, struck her, and forced her to drive him to Federal Way.
Investigators said Vaught-Barr also claimed nobody else had been inside the vehicle, a statement detectives said conflicted with witness statements and security video.
Vaught-Barr and her boyfriend were arrested early June 1 while driving in Snohomish County. Detectives said they found a written statement in the vehicle that appeared to be a prewritten guide for what Vaught-Barr planned to say about the earlier phone interview, along with another note investigators believed outlined a plan moving forward.
Detectives also recovered a 9 mm firearm and clothing they say matched what people in the car were wearing in portions of the surveillance footage. Investigators said it appeared the pair were in the process of moving or relocating.
Vaught-Barr pleaded not guilty and remained jailed Tuesday on $1 million bail. Her boyfriend was separately charged as a fugitive out of Oregon, where authorities say he is wanted on criminal mischief, burglary and aggravated theft charges. He has not been charged in Braylon Diaz’s killing.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
