On a late summer evening in Kent, Washington, a dispute over a parking spot escalated into a fatal encounter for Juan Manuel Vazio Vasquez, a 28-year-old Hispanic male. The incident, which occurred on August 19, 2022, in the parking lot of the Riverwood Apartments on Russell Road, would cut short the young man's life and lead to the conviction of his neighbor.
The conflict began when Stephen A.
Tullier, 71 at the time, confronted a woman about a vehicle partially blocking his assigned parking stall in the fire lane. After a heated exchange, the woman drove away. Shortly after, Vasquez, who was a resident of the same apartment complex, began shouting at Tullier from the parking lot. Tullier, armed with a 9mm firearm, went down to confront Vasquez. The argument quickly turned physical, with both men pushing each other.
During the altercation, Vasquez reportedly told Tullier he knew he had a gun and that he should put it away. The physical struggle resulted in Tullier falling down several steps. After getting up, Tullier fired a single shot that struck Vasquez in the abdomen. The bullet transected his aorta, causing a fatal injury. Despite the swift arrival of Kent Police officers, who found Vasquez unconscious and without a pulse, and their immediate life-saving efforts, he could not be revived.
The investigation into the shooting was aided by a crucial piece of evidence: a cellphone video recorded by Vasquez's 10-year-old son. This video, along with witness statements, contradicted Tullier's claim of self-defense, as a witness stated Vasquez made no aggressive movements toward Tullier before being shot. Tullier was taken into custody at the scene. In February 2024, a King County Superior Court jury convicted Stephen A. Tullier of second-degree murder with a firearm enhancement. He was sentenced to ten years and two months in prison, followed by three years of community custody.
