On the evening of April 6, 2021, a 29-year-old female named Mariela Vargas-Brown was driving along the scenic Ruston Way in Tacoma, Washington, with her boyfriend. At approximately 10:30 p.m., the pleasant spring evening was shattered by the sound of gunshots. A bullet struck Mariela, causing her to lose control of her vehicle and crash into a pole in the 4300 block of Ruston Way.
Her boyfriend managed to get her out of the crashed car, but her injuries were fatal.
When Tacoma police and fire department medics arrived at the scene, they found Mariela unresponsive on the ground next to the vehicle. Despite their efforts, she was pronounced dead at the scene from a gunshot wound to the head. Her death was the seventh homicide in Tacoma that year.
In the wake of her death, Mariela's family was left devastated and searching for answers. They believe she was the unintended victim of a stray bullet, as they say she had no known enemies. Mariela was a phlebotomist who loved her job, which involved drawing blood from children. She was remembered by loved ones for her infectious laugh and bubbly personality.
As of late 2021, the homicide of Mariela Vargas-Brown remains unsolved, and no arrests have been made. Investigators have not released any information about a possible suspect or suspects, nor have they detailed a motive for the shooting. Crime Stoppers has offered a reward for any information that leads to an arrest and conviction in the case, and authorities have asked for the public's help in solving this crime.
