2 homeless Tacomans were killed in close proximity. Now, a 23 year old is going to prison
A Tacoma man who reportedly expressed hatred for people experiencing homelessness was sentenced to 25 years in prison for two slayings within proximity of an encampment on the city’s Eastside in 2021, court records show.
Nickolas Rojas, 23, was sentenced after pleading guilty to second-degree murder and first-degree assault in a plea deal Thursday in Pierce County Superior Court. Each charge carried sentencing enhancements — one for use of a deadly weapon; the other for use of a firearm — according to court records.
The charges stemmed from the Sept. 25, 2021, shooting death of 31-year-old Diego Escalante, who had been sitting in a chair in an encampment, and the fatal stabbing of 35-year-old Syretta Brown, whose body was found on Nov. 13, 2021, in a tent behind a city fire station.
Escalante had been shot three times at the encampment, near East 38th Street and East McKinley Avenue, and Brown, who died from multiple sharp-force injuries, had been dead for weeks when her body was located 200 yards away from the encampment, according to Tacoma police.
A month after Escalante’s death, Rojas’ mother told detectives that she had “a gut feeling” her son was responsible for it, according to charging papers. Their family lived nine blocks from the encampment, and Rojas harbored a hatred for unhoused people, was mentally unstable and had been a violent child, she reportedly told police.
Rojas’ mother informed authorities that her son had previously commented that “homeless are useless and should be killed,” according to court records.
He also reportedly confided in his father that he “did something terrible” and, while drunk, asked his parents whether they’d still love him if he had killed someone, although he denied that remark once sober, court records show. Detectives searching the Rojas’ home located a Glock 9 mm pistol, which matched 16 shell casings recovered from the encampment, and a rain jacket that matched the description of one worn by the shooter after witnesses reported the shooting to police.
‘Always kind’
Escalante’s sister, Grecia Villa, who lives in Texas, addressed Rojas during Thursday’s sentencing via Zoom. Villa said in an interview that she had expressed that Rojas was a coward, noting that her brother had been shot from behind, and that Escalante’s death had left a hole in their small, tight-knit family.
Escalante was a big fan of soccer and came to Washington at 10 years old upon returning to the states from El Salvador. Villa, 37, recalled that he’d often ask for noodle soup or something sweet and she’d be happy to oblige. Her five children will now grow up without an uncle, she said. Escalante’s death also meant that he was unable to fulfill a promise to one of his nieces: to dance together at her 15th birthday party.
“He was a really good uncle,” Villa said, adding that he’d impart advice to her children and bond with one nephew over video games. “No matter what he was going through, he was just always kind, always happy and a loving person.”
Villa said that Rojas didn’t look at her while she spoke during the court hearing, and she believed his sentencing wasn’t long enough.
“It wasn’t fair what he got, because doing it twice,” she said, in reference to his crimes, “that’s just not normal.”
‘She’s not here’
While Rojas was charged with Escalante’s killing a little more than two months after the incident, it took authorities more than a year to bring charges against Rojas for Brown’s murder. It was determined that Rojas owned the brand of knife that fit into a sheath found at the scene and had sought and received medical treatment for a cut to his hand on Oct. 2, 2021, six weeks before Brown’s body was found. Surveillance footage from a nearby convenience store appeared to show Brown walking by the store roughly an hour-and-a-half prior to when Rojas was taken to a hospital, court records show.
In a follow-up interview by detectives with Rojas’s mother, they learned that Rojas had reportedly made the remark about killing someone on Oct. 4, 2021, according to court records, and Rojas’s mother clarified to authorities that she interpreted his comments to suggest that he’d been involved in more than one murder.
Brown’s killing left her two young sons without a mother. Debora Underwood, who is Brown’s mother, told The News Tribune after charges were filed late last year that both children were robbed of an incomparable presence in their lives.
“There’s nothing like a mother’s love compared to a grandmother,” Underwood had said.
In an interview Monday, Underwood said there was evidence to prove Rojas’ guilt in both killings and her family was disappointed in the sentencing, adding that they plan to stay on top of future parole board hearings for fear that Rojas will get out of prison and hurt more people. She also expressed frustration with the state that she couldn’t force help for her daughter, who’d experienced homelessness on and off since 2010 amid struggles with mental health and addiction.
“She could’ve changed her life around, but we’ll never know that now,” Underwood said. “She’s not here.”
When she addressed Rojas during Thursday’s sentencing, she said she wanted him to understand what he’d taken away: Opportunities for Brown’s children to share holidays, birthdays and personal celebrations with their mother and vice versa. Brown was extremely outgoing and smart, finishing high school early and taking college courses in 12th grade before joining the Army, according to Underwood. Brown loved traveling, music and dancing and was friendly to everyone.
“She met no strangers,” Underwood said.
Rojas cried during sentencing, according to Underwood, who said she had forgiven him for his actions “because I cannot take this load on.” Underwood also said that she expressed gratitude toward Rojas’ mother for turning her son in.
“I could imagine the daily hell that she goes through knowing what her son did and what she had to do,” Underwood said.
A GoFundMe started by Brown’s family remains active.
Attorney: Rojas remorseful
In a filing Thursday regarding the plea bargain’s amended charges, prosecutors said they recommended a 25-year prison sentence, in part, after considering Rojas’ age, childhood life experiences and existing evidentiary issues.
A message left with the Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for comment and clarification was not returned by deadline Monday.
Defense attorney Brett Purtzer, who represented Rojas, told The News Tribune that the defense had recommended the same prison sentence as the prosecution. Any evidentiary issues were likely related to Brown’s killing since evidence in that case was more circumstantial, he said.
“Given the facts of the case and Mr. Rojas’ situation, I think it was an appropriate sentence for the conduct that occurred,” he said, adding that Rojas expressed remorse for his actions and had mental health issues, but declined to expand further. “He’s just kind of beside himself as well. He doesn’t know why he did what he did.”
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include comments from Diego Escalante’s sister, Grecia Villa.
This story was originally published August 29, 2023 at 5:30 AM.
