Man who was ‘legendary’ in local dirt-track racing scene IDed as Tacoma homicide victim
A beloved father and local business owner who was fatally shot in his Hyundai Tuscon in Tacoma last week has been identified.
Virgil Stebbins, 64 of Auburn, died from multiple gunshot wounds to the head near the 1100 block of Center Street on Feb. 19. His manner of death has been listed as a homicide, according to the Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Jerry Espana Davila, 39, was arrested in the killing Thursday. Pierce County prosecutors charged Davila with two counts of second-degree murder and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm, court records show.
Davila allegedly had a black lab with him when he went up to Stebbins, who was in his Hyundai, and shot him multiple times. Davila fled in a minivan and was later arrested outside the Humane Society of Tacoma & Pierce County, charging documents show.
Stebbins was the owner of A to B Auto Inc. in Tacoma and was reportedly shot in front of his dealership, documents show.
According to a GoFundMe, Stebbins was “legendary” in the local dirt-track racing community. He also played guitar and sang in his band, 0’Dark:30. Stebbins was a father to his daughter, Tabitha, who is now the sole surviving member of their family.
Tabitha’s mother died from cancer about two years ago, and her sister was killed in a car/pedestrian accident, the GoFundMe said.
“My dad was one of my absolute best friends and one of the few people I could really trust to tell it to me straight when I needed it. No one on this planet is as kind, caring, fun loving and happy to be living life as him. I will forever be so blessed from the things he taught me,” Tabitha said in the GoFundMe. “A life time worth of amazing music and racing memories I’ll never ever forget. Learning to move forward alone without him isn’t going to be easy. I hope you hold your families a little tighter tonight.”
The GoFundMe has raised about $4,906 to help with funeral and other expenses.
This story was originally published February 27, 2024 at 2:12 PM.
