A 17-year-old handed over a necklace worth about $10 during a robbery, but prosecutors say he was shot anyway. The alleged gunman later fled to Mexico before being captured and returned to face murder charges.
On May 24, 2026, at around 7:13 p.m., multiple people called 911 after a 17-year-old boy was shot and left lying in the roadway in Parkland, Washington. Upon arrival, deputies immediately began life-saving efforts. He died at the scene.
The victim was identified as 17-year-old Braylon Daniel Diaz.
Investigators said Diaz had been walking with his 16-year-old girlfriend when a vehicle approached and someone inside called him over.
According to authorities, the people inside the vehicle robbed Diaz of a gold chain around his neck. Prosecutors later said the necklace was worth approximately $10 and that Diaz complied with the demand before he was shot.
The vehicle then fled the area.
Investigators later identified 21-year-old Brandon Torres-Meza as the alleged gunman.
Authorities said surveillance footage, cell phone records and witness statements placed Torres-Meza at the scene and identified him as the person who shot Diaz.
Investigators also identified 26-year-old Alyssa Vaught-Barr as another person allegedly involved in the robbery.
Authorities said Vaught-Barr was driving the vehicle that approached Diaz and his girlfriend and is believed to have served as the getaway driver.
Vaught-Barr was later arrested and charged with first-degree murder.
Following the shooting, authorities said Torres-Meza fled the United States and traveled to Mexico.
He was located there in July 2026.
Prosecutors said armed Blackhawk helicopters were used during the operation to extract Torres-Meza before he was returned to the United States.
Torres-Meza was subsequently arraigned on charges including aggravated first-degree murder, first-degree murder and unlawful possession of a firearm.
He pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutors initially requested that bail be set at $5 million.
During the hearing, Diaz’s uncle asked the judge to double that amount, arguing Torres-Meza posed a danger to the community and had already shown a willingness to flee the country to avoid prosecution.
The judge granted the family’s request and set bail at $10 million.
Prosecutors also said Torres-Meza was already facing charges in three other pending cases at the time Diaz was killed, including unlawful possession of a firearm and assault.
Authorities said he later missed a court hearing in those cases while allegedly hiding in Mexico.
If convicted in the murder case, Torres-Meza faces a potential sentence of life in prison.
