EVERETT — The friendship began more than eight years ago when a little girl brought potted plants to her teachers at Picnic Point Elementary School.
Maria Jaquez was in kindergarten, the daughter of a landscaper. Sonja Vaughan was a first-grade teacher at the school north of Lynnwood. She also knew Maria’s brother, Kevin, who is a few years older.
At the time, well before Vaughan had children of her own, her husband often was on the road. He suggested they hire somebody to keep up on the yard. How about the dad of the girl who brings in the flowers?
Vaughan was delighted to have Maria as one of her students the following year.
Over time, a bond developed between the teacher and the girl’s family. They often would arrive together at Vaughan’s home on Saturdays while Dad worked. Sometimes Vaughan would make them lemonade and popcorn. On occasion, the family would go fishing and bring her part of the catch.
“They were doing everything they could to make a better life for their kids,” Vaughan said. “The thing with them is they put family first.”
All of which made it so hard for Vaughan to comprehend how Kevin and Maria could have been shot near Discovery Elementary School south of Everett on Sept. 3.
The answer, it turned out, is they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. “Innocent victims of a senseless shooting,” Vaughan said.
That afternoon Kevin was accompanying Maria and one of her friends. The trio was walking between Voyager Middle and Discovery. They planned to meet up with another friend to practice dance steps for one of the girls’ upcoming quinceanera, a Latino coming-of-age celebration on a girl’s 15th birthday. Kevin was carrying a soccer ball to pass the time.
They crossed paths with another group of teens. One boy pulled out a gun and shot the brother and sister.
The teen confronted Kevin because he was wearing blue shorts, according to witness accounts quoted in court papers. The suspect allegedly told detectives that he is a gang member and he thought the blue Kevin wore meant he was part of a rival gang. That was not the case.
Kevin was shot three times and Maria once as she tried to intercede.
Sylius St. Amie, 16, was charged with two counts of first-degree assault. He allegedly told police he was angry the day of the shooting because he and his girlfriend had been fighting.
One of the bullets remains lodged in Kevin’s liver, Vaughan said. Kevin could need another surgery. He has not returned to Mariner High School, but school officials are working with him on his studies as he recovers at home.
Maria has faced a quicker recovery and is now attending freshmen classes at Mariner High School.
“They are a wonderful loving family that has suffered an unimaginable tragedy,” Vaughan said. “Through all of this they have maintained their amazing faith and positive outlook on life.”
Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446; stevick@heraldnet.com.
Help out
Sonja Vaughan has been spearheading efforts to raise money to help the Jaquez family with expenses. To learn more or contribute, go to tinyurl.com/JaquezFamily.
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