In Elberton, Georgia, a domestic dispute tragically cut short the life of 17-year-old Alyric Fouch on March 12, 2016. The young African American woman was fatally shot by her mother's boyfriend in a violent series of events that unfolded on Reese Street. The perpetrator was later identified as 49-year-old Raphael Diaz de Leon.
The incident began with an argument concerning Diaz de Leon's drinking.
In an attempt to escape the escalating situation, Alyric's mother, Rhonda Cureton, fled the residence and flagged down a passing vehicle. Diaz de Leon opened fire on the car, injuring both Cureton and the driver. Both individuals were transported to a local hospital for treatment and were subsequently released.
Following the shooting, law enforcement officers discovered Alyric Fouch's body in the roadway. A short distance away, in the front yard of the home, they found the body of Raphael Diaz de Leon. The investigation, conducted by the Elbert County Sheriff's Office, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the Georgia State Patrol, concluded that Diaz de Leon had taken his own life after killing Fouch and injuring the two others. The case was classified as a murder-suicide stemming from domestic violence.
The community mourned the loss of the Elbert County Comprehensive High School junior, who was an honor student with aspirations of becoming a Nurse Practitioner. A candlelight vigil was held at her high school, where friends and family gathered to remember a life ended too soon.
