On a tragic summer evening in Renton, Washington, the life of 9-year-old Alexia Garcia was cut short in an act of violence that also claimed the lives of her mother and aunt. The Hispanic girl was a vibrant and beloved child, known for her sweet nature and a smile that could light up a room. Alexia, who loved making TikTok videos, collecting stuffed animals, and snuggling with her cat, was just beginning to blossom out of her shyness. Her family remembers her as a funny and mature soul who found joy in the smallest of things and spread that joy to everyone she knew.
The devastating incident occurred on July 19, 2025, inside an apartment on Hillcrest Lane Northeast. At around 7:30 p.m., gunfire erupted, ending the lives of Alexia, her 46-year-old mother, Darcey Moore, and her 39-year-old aunt, Jamie Lee Ray. All three victims were found to have been shot twice in the head. Two other people who were present in the apartment at the time of the shooting managed to escape unharmed and provided crucial information to the police.
The day after the killings, a 46-year-old man named Steve Vasquez was arrested in south Seattle in connection with the triple homicide. Vasquez had been in a dating relationship with Alexia's mother, Darcey Moore, for about a month. Investigators determined the incident was related to domestic violence. Home video footage from a camera in Moore's bedroom, captured about an hour before the police were called, showed Vasquez holding a handgun. In the video, he is seen handling the firearm before approaching the camera and turning it away, ending the recording.
Steve Vasquez was subsequently charged with one count of first-degree domestic violence aggravated murder for the death of Darcey Moore, and two additional counts of aggravated first-degree murder for the deaths of Alexia Garcia and Jamie Ray. He pleaded not guilty to all charges, and his bail was set at $10 million. The motive for the shooting remains under investigation. The loss of Alexia, her mother, and her aunt has left their family and the community heartbroken, grieving the senseless loss of three lives, including that of a young girl with a bright future ahead of her.
