In the early morning hours of December 5, 2022, the life of 21-year-old Rayann Perez, a Hispanic and Latina woman, was tragically cut short in an apartment near Lacey, Washington. The cause of her death was a single gunshot wound to the head. Rayann, a mother to a 17-month-old daughter, was found deceased by Thurston County deputies after a distressing call to 911.
The call came not from the scene of the crime, but from the mother of Rayann’s boyfriend, Marquan Elizah Bryant, who reported that her son had confessed to killing his girlfriend.
The events leading to Rayann’s death began with an argument between her and Bryant. The dispute escalated to a physical struggle over a loaded firearm. According to Bryant's account, the gun discharged accidentally during the altercation, striking Rayann in the face. Following the shooting, Bryant did not seek medical help for Rayann. Instead, he remained with her for a period before a friend picked him up. He then confessed to his mother what had transpired, which prompted her to contact the authorities. Pierce County deputies later located and arrested Bryant at his grandparent's home in Graham without incident.
Initially, Marquan Bryant was charged with second-degree murder with a domestic violence enhancement. Bail was set at $2.5 million. The legal proceedings that followed saw Bryant ultimately plead guilty to a lesser charge of first-degree manslaughter while armed with a firearm. In his statement, Bryant admitted to recklessly causing Rayann’s death during the struggle for the loaded gun. During the emotional sentencing hearing, where family and friends of Rayann were present, Bryant offered an apology. The judge handed down a sentence of over 13 years in prison, the maximum for the manslaughter charge. The case has left Rayann's family, including her two mothers, devastated and has highlighted the tragic consequences of domestic violence.
