Reward increased for at-large suspect accused of killing Parkland teen
A reward has been increased in the search for a 21-year-old man who allegedly shot and killed a Parkland teen in May.
In a Facebook post on Thursday, Crime Stoppers of Tacoma-Pierce County announced a $3,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of Brandon Torres-Mesa. That was an increase from $1,000.
Torres-Mesa is facing charges of aggravated first-degree murder, first-degree murder and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm, according to court records.
The victim, 17-year-old Braylon Diaz from Washington High School, was shot and killed on May 24 while walking with his girlfriend. A car with three or four people pulled up to the couple, The News Tribune previously reported, and robbed Diaz of his jewelry. Torres-Mesa then allegedly shot him, and the car sped off.
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Authorities received the call at 7:13 p.m. and found Diaz’s body in the 10200 block of Sheridan Avenue South.
Police tracked down the car in the homicide on May 28, finding it abandoned in the Federal Way area. On June 2, the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office secured a warrant for Torres-Mesa’s arrest, saying he was at large and believed to be the man who shot Diaz.
Two other suspects in the case were arrested in Snohomish County on May 31: 26-year-old Alyssa Vaught-Barr and her 25-year-old boyfriend. Vaught-Barr, who was allegedly the getaway driver during the homicide, was charged with first-degree murder on June 2, and bail was set at $1 million.
Vaught-Barr and her boyfriend both claimed her boyfriend was not in the car when the shooting happened — but police found papers for her boyfriend in the glove box of the suspect vehicle, according to court documents, and a passenger shown in video footage resembles him, according to court documents. Her boyfriend was charged with being a fugitive in connection to a warrant issued in Oregon, but The News Tribune has not named him because he has not been formally charged in connection to Diaz’s murder.
Deputy Carly Cappetto, spokesperson for the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, previously told The News Tribune investigators believe more people were involved besides Torres-Mesa, Vaught-Barr and Vaught-Barr’s boyfriend.
Torres-Mesa is a Hispanic man who is about 6 feet tall and weighs between 200 and 300 pounds, according to Crime Stoppers.
Residents with information can call 1-800-222-TIPS, according to Crime Stoppers. Tipsters will be anonymous.
If you see Torres-Mesa, call 911.
