29th Tacoma Homicide of 2021: Gaylee Anne Valente Curcio

Posted on April 24, 2023 | Leave a comment

Weeks before her murder 44-year-old Gaylee Anne Valente Curcio knew her life was in danger. Gaylee’s 39-year-old ex-boyfriend had tried to choke her and dragged her by the hair. So she got a restraining order against him.

Eleven days before her murder Gaylee received text messages from her ex-boyfriend threatening to kill her and her family.

Two days before her murder Gaylee’s vehicle’s windows were smashed and the power to her apartment was cut. Charging papers state he sent a message to Gaylee that read, “You can’t hide we love the hunt.”

At 7:45am on November 5, 2021 Tacoma police responded to a call of a disturbance in the 3100 block of South 9th Street and found a 41-year-old women bleeding from multiple stab wounds. She told them that she had heard an argument and tried to help a woman who was being attacked. The police officers were led to Gaylee’s home where they found her. Gaylee’s ex-boyfriend had stabbed her at least ten times. Both women were taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital where Gaylee later died of her wounds becoming Tacoma’s 29th homicide of 2021.

Gaylee’s ex-boyfriend was arrested five days after her murder.

Gaylee did everything you’re supposed to do if you’re afraid of a former partner. It did not save her. And now each one of her family and friends are left with a hole in their life that can’t be patched.

I was unable to find much out about Gaylee Anne Valente Curcio. It appears she lived in Chico, California for a while before coming to Tacoma. In situations like this, I rely on friends and family of Gaylee to share thoughts or memories they have of her in the comments below.

– Jack Cameron

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We Are Moving

Posted on April 23, 2023 | Leave a comment

Hello, everyone. Since this site began in 2005, it has been hosted on WordPress. WordPress has been a good home for TacomaStories, but I feel it’s time for a change.

Beginning on May 1, 2023 TacomaStories will be hosted on Substack.

There are a number of reasons for this change, but the first and foremost one is that Substack is not ad based. While I’ve avoided selling advertisements on TacomaStories during the nearly 20 years the site has been active, WordPress charges me money if I want to remove their advertisements.

I don’t mind offering TacomaStories for free and intend to continue to have no paywalls on TacomaStories, but I’d prefer it not actually cost me money to do this.

And so TacomaStories is moving to Substack.

If all goes as planned, you won’t have to do anything at all to keep accessing TacomaStories.

That said, it has never been easier to support TacomaStories. You can subscribe for free or you can choose to support TacomaStories financially with a paid subscription. Both free and paid subscribers will receive all the same posts.

Think of it like PBS. Most people just watch, but it’s made possible by people who offer financial support.

You don’t have to. It’s not required. But if you’d like to help me offset the costs of website maintenance, research, and other resources, I’d really appreciate it.

Click the link below to sign up for the new website. Or just wait until May and go to TacomaStories.com.

https://tacomastories.substack.com

– Jack Cameron

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28th Tacoma Homicide of 2021: Raymond Williams

Posted on April 17, 2023 | Leave a comment

October 21st was a sunny day. One of those fall days that could be mistaken for the last days of summer. Raymond Williams, 22 had gotten in the back seat of his sister, Maria’s Grand Marquis with his girlfriend, Tasha. Maria’s son, Emery sat in the passenger seat. It was just after 4:20pm when the gunshots started.

Maria was shot as she tried to get out of the car. Tasha barely got out before she was shot. Emery ran and was shot by the gunman. And Raymond Williams was shot in the back of the head and shoulder. He would survive the initial shooting, but die at the hospital becoming Tacoma’s 29th homicide of 2021 and the fourth and final Tacoma homicide that day.

A week would pass before the man responsible was identified and arrested. Police and prosecutors were unable to find a connection between any of the victims and the man who murdered the four of them. The only link anyone has found is that the man and Tasha were in 5th Grade together. The man was charged with four counts of Aggravated First Degree Murder and faces a life sentence if convicted.

Raymond lived with his mother, Marlene. She has health problems. He would make sure she took her medications, and had regular meals. He doted on her. He and his girlfriend Tasha would sometimes bring food packages to homeless individuals. He was the sort of person who would pick up litter. Raymond understood the value of family and community. He was looking forward to his future with Tasha. They had planned that future and in moments, it was stolen from them.

As always, the comment section is reserved for those who knew Raymond and want to share thoughts or memories of him.

–Jack

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27th Tacoma Homicide of 2021: Emery Iese

Posted on April 10, 2023 | Leave a comment

Emery Christopher Thomas Iese was sitting in the passenger seat of his mother’s Grand Marquis in an alley near their house. His 42-year-old mother sat in the driver’s seat. His 22-year-old uncle, Raymond and his Raymond’s 22-year-old girlfriend, Tasha were in the back. The weather on October 21, 2021 was bright and sunny.

At 4:22pm, a 22-year-old man who lived half a mile away and had a history of mental illness approached the car and opened fire with a 9mm pistol. Emery’s mother was shot before she could get out of the car. As bullets continued to fire, Emery got out and ran across the yard until he tripped. The gunman chased him down and despite Emery telling the man not to fire, the man shot him at arm’s length. Emery was Tacoma’s 27th homicide of 2021 and the third one of four that day.

A week would pass before the man responsible was identified and arrested. Police and prosecutors were unable to find a connection between any of the victims and the man who murdered the four of them. The only link anyone has found is that the man was in 5th Grade with one of the victims. The man was charged with four counts of Aggravated First Degree Murder and faces a life sentence if convicted.

Emery was a graduate of Chief Leschi School just four months before his death and had plans to go to college. He wanted to be a teacher. He was the family comedian, but his passions were music and art. He was also dedicated to his friends and family. He was often the one to organize outings. He made sure in his nineteen years of life that his friends and family would have good memories of him.

As always the comment section is reserved for those who knew Emery and want to share thoughts and memories of him. 

–Jack

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26th Tacoma Homicide of 2021: Natasha Brincefield

Posted on April 3, 2023 | Leave a comment

Twenty-two year old, Natasha Brincefield went by Tasha. Her boyfriend was Raymond Williams. He was in the back seat with her. His 42-year-old sister, Maria and her 19-year-old son. Emery sat in the front seats of the Grand Marquis in the alley near Maria’s house in Tacoma’s Salishan on a sunny afternoon on October 21, 2021.

At 4:22pm, a 22-year-old man who lived half a mile away and had a history of mental problems opened fire on the car with a 9mm pistol. Tasha barely got out of the car before she was shot in the head becoming Tacoma’s 26th homicide of 2021 and the second of four that day.

A week would pass before the man responsible was identified and arrested. Police and prosecutors were unable to find a connection between any of the victims and the man who murdered the four of them. The only link anyone has found is that the man was in 5th Grade with one of the victims. The man was charged with four counts of Aggravated First Degree Murder and faces a life sentence if convicted.

Tasha worked for Frito Lay stocking store shelves. When she wasn’t working she was helping family members, hanging out with her brother and sister, or motivating younger students by speaking at her former high school. She also had a love of the ocean. Tasha and her boyfriend Raymond were planning a life together. A family. That future, that Tacoma Story was stolen from her, from her family, and from all of us.

As always, the comment section is reserved for those who knew Tasha and want to share thoughts or memories of her.

–Jack

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25th Tacoma Homicide of 2021: Maria Nunez

Posted on March 27, 2023 | 1 comment

It was a sunny afternoon in Tacoma’s Salishan neighborhood on October 21, 2021. Forty-two-year-old Maria Nunez was sitting in the driver’s seat of her Mercury Grand Marquis in front of her house. Her son, 19-year-old Emery Christopher Iese sat in the passenger seat. In the backseats were her 22-year-old brother Raymond Williams, and his girlfriend, Natasha Brincefield. It was around 4:20pm.

Two minutes later a 22-year-old man who lived half a mile away and had a history of mental problems approached the car with a 9mm pistol and opened fire. Nunez was shot in the head as she tried to get out of her car. She was one of four victims that day and the 25th Tacoma homicide of 2021.

A week would pass before the man responsible was identified and arrested. Police and prosecutors were unable to find a connection between any of the victims and the man who murdered the four of them. The only link anyone has found is that the man was in 5th Grade with one of the victims. The man was charged with four counts of Aggravated First Degree Murder and faces a life sentence if convicted.

The senselessness of these murders cannot be overstated. They are Tacoma homicides 25-29 of 2021. Even in a city with an ever increasing violent crime rate, this event shocked the community.

Maria Nunez was the wife of a pastor who ministers to a congregation on Tacoma’s East Side. She was a fun and happy person who enjoyed counseling members of her husband’s church. She was a very loving mother. The couple had seven children.

As always, the comment section is reserved for those who knew Maria and want to share thoughts or memories of her.

–Jack

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24th Tacoma Homicide of 2021: Kalyn Smith

Posted on March 20, 2023 | Leave a comment

On the morning of October 12, 2021, thirty-year-old Kalyn Smith’s body was found in the 3100 block of East M Street. It would be eight months before the Medical Examiner would rule her death a homicide. She died from someone crushing her throat. And now, over a year later, there remains no further information as to who is responsible or the circumstances that led to Kalyn’s death.

Kalyn is the twenty-fourth Tacoma homicide of 2021. My research into her is hampered by the fact that she had a common last name, does not seem to have had a large online presence, and the simple fact that not a lot of information has been released about this particular homicide. It wasn’t until June of 2022 that the Medical Examiner decided it was a homicide.

Also as the homicide rate rises, the media coverage of homicides decreases. This results in less information being publicly available about the individual.

What I can say from years of writing about Tacoma homicides is that there are friends and family of Kalyn who will never be the same due to her loss. And that while the media may largely ignore homicides that they see as unimportant, for some this homicide will mean quite a lot.

As always, the comment section is reserved for those who knew Kalyn and want to share thoughts or memories of her. If you happen to have a photo of her you’d like to accompany this article, please contact me at jackcameronis@gmail.com.

  • Jack

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23rd Tacoma Homicide of 2021: Diego Escalante

Posted on March 13, 2023 | Leave a comment

On the night of his death Diego Escalante was living in a homeless encampment near South 38th and McKinley Avenue. He was a friendly guy who had worked as a cook. He was funny. And he loved to share stories from the bible that he had memorized. At 1:30am on September 25, 2021 he was sitting in a chair when an intoxicated 21-year-old approached him and shot him three times. Diego died on the scene.

When the mother of the 21-year-old heard about the murder she had suspicions her son was responsible. They lived nine blocks from the homeless encampment. Her son had purchased a pistol and he had frequently talked about how he felt homeless people should be killed. She contacted police with her suspicions and her son was charged with first degree murder.

Diego’s killer did not know him and had no previous contact with him. By all account Diego was a random victim of a mentally deranged intoxicated young man who had all too easy access to deadly weapons and violent urges. His death was a senseless act of violence that ripped a hole in the lives of all who knew and loved Diego.

The animosity towards homeless individuals is just as misguided as any other form of bigotry.

As always, the comment section is moderated and reserved for those who knew Diego and want to share thoughts or memories of him.

–Jack

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22nd Tacoma Homicide of 2021: Antonio Deshaun Robinson

Posted on March 6, 2023 | Leave a comment

It was just after 5:30am on September 23, 2021 when someone knocked on the door of the motel room 35-year-old Antonio Deshaun Robinson was sharing with his girlfriend in the 8800 block of Hosmer Street. The person at the door told Antonio that a 42-year-old man who had stolen a gun from Antonio was in the parking lot. Antonio went outside to confront the man who had stolen his gun. An argument ensued that soon became physical. The 42-year-old man shot Antonio once, then fired three more times. When first responders arrived around 5:40am, Antonio was still alive, but just after 6:00am he succumbed to his injuries becoming the twenty-third Tacoma homicide of 2021.

Police quickly identified the man responsible and arrested him in early November 2021. He was charged with second degree murder. Ammunition found in the motel room matched the ammunition from the gun used to kill Antonio.

Hosmer Street from South 72nd to South 96th is the most dangerous street in the city of Tacoma with multiple murders happening there every year.

This is not the first tragedy to hit Antonio’s family. In 2012, his brother Gary was shot and killed in Missouri. I can’t imagine the pain his family is feeling. Antonio had a young son who has forever lost his father.

As always the comment section is moderated and reserved for friends and family of Antonio who want to share thoughts and memories of him.

-Jack Cameron

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21st Tacoma Homicide of 2021: Soohui Kim

Posted on February 27, 2023 | Leave a comment

On the last night of her life, 42-year-old Soohui Kim went to a casino with her friend. It was September 21, 2021. They left in the early morning hours of September 22nd. Her friend fell asleep. Soohui had some ‘clear’ she wanted to sell. ‘Clear’ is slang for a kind of methamphetamine. She knew someone who wanted to buy it but he wasn’t someone she’d ever sold to before. She exchanged a few text messages with the man before agreeing to meet in the parking lot of an apartment complex in the 4500 block of South Puget Sound Avenue.

Around 4:30am, a few minutes before Soohui and her friend arrived in her SUV, the man she was texting with pulled up in a Honda and met with two other men. Those men waited for Soohui to pull up. Soohui’s friend woke up when they pulled into the parking lot. Moments later, the two men approached the vehicle from behind and fired 5-6 shots into the vehicle. Soohui immediately pulled out of the parking lot and drove away. Her friend had been grazed by a bullet. Soohui had been shot twice and crashed into a telephone pole on South 47th and Pine. Her friend ran to a nearby convenience store and called 9-1-1, but Soohui Kim was dead by the time first responders arrived becoming the twenty-first homicide of 2021.

With the help of witnesses, video surveillance, and cellphone data, police were able to identify, arrest, and charge the three men responsible for Soohui Kim’s murder.

I wasn’t able to find much about Soohui Kim’s life, friends, or family, but I know that she was more than someone who sold drugs. It’s all too easy for some to dismiss people involved in criminal activity as nothing more than criminals, but all of us are more than the worst things we’ve done. Soohui Kim had friends and family who will never hear her laugh again. They have a hole in their lives that will never be repaired. It is a loss they will simply get used to with time.

As always the comment section is reserved for those who knew Soohui Kim and would like to share thoughts or memories of her.

-Jack Cameron

TacomaStories is always free. If you’d like to support our work, you can donate at this link. Thank you.

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