A vibrant and beloved 23-year-old Hispanic female, Anais Nin Valencia, was tragically killed on the night of Tuesday, February 9, 2021, in Seattle, Washington. Born on May 28, 1997, in Renton, Washington, Anais was known for her kind and generous spirit, her big smile, and the genuine love she had for her family and friends. She was a passionate individual with a love for music, animals, and video games.
At the time of her death, she was a student at Tacoma Community College, pursuing her dream of becoming a veterinarian, and had recently moved into her first apartment near the campus.
On that fateful evening, Anais was in Seattle's Central District with a friend. At approximately 9:16 p.m., while they were in a vehicle in a parking lot near the 2300 block of South Massachusetts Street, a man engaged with them. Surveillance footage captured the man, identified as Gregory Taylor, walking up to the car, interacting with the occupants, and then beating on the hood of the vehicle before walking away. Shortly after, he opened fire on the vehicle, striking both Anais and her friend. A harrowing 911 call was made from the vehicle, with Anais's friend pleading for help and stating that her friend was dying.
Seattle police officers who were in the vicinity responded to the reports of gunfire and heard additional shots upon their arrival. The suspect, Gregory Taylor, then walked toward the officers and pointed his gun at them. In the ensuing confrontation, police returned fire, fatally shooting Taylor at the scene. Anais was critically injured and, despite being rushed to Harborview Medical Center, she succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds. Her friend survived the attack.
The investigation that followed revealed no known connection between Anais and the assailant, Gregory Taylor. It was later reported that Taylor was a resident of the apartment building where the shooting occurred and had been the subject of prior complaints regarding his behavior and threats involving a firearm. Anais's death was ruled a homicide by the King County Medical Examiner's Office. In the days following the senseless act of violence, family and friends gathered for a candlelight vigil to honor and remember a young woman who was described as living life to the fullest and always having a big smile on her face.
