Upper Providence mom faces charges related to daughter’s shooting death
NORRISTOWN >> The mother of a 13-year-old Upper Providence boy accused of fatally shooting his younger sister inside the family’s home is facing charges that she recklessly allowed her son to possess a firearm and also lied to detectives during the investigation.
Daisy Diane Vasquez, 31, of the 100 block of Larchwood Court, was arraigned on Monday before District Court Judge Richard H. Welsh on charges of endangering the welfare of children, hindering apprehension or prosecution, possession of a firearm by a minor — responsibility of an adult, and recklessly endangering another person in connection with the March 19 incident during which her son, Jah’sir, allegedly fatally shot her daughter, 12-year-old Jasiyah Vasquez, inside the family’s residence.
Daisy Vasquez was released on $50,000 unsecured bail to await her April 27 preliminary hearing on the charges. As a condition of bail, Daisy Vasquez is not allowed to possess a firearm.
Under state law, any person who knowingly and intentionally delivers or provides a firearm to a minor can be charged with a third-degree felony.
The arrest was announced Monday by Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele and Upper Providence Township Police Chief Mark A. Toomey.
“The death of this girl is a tragedy, but it could have been prevented. A pivotal aspect is the mother asking her child to go outside to the driveway to retrieve her handgun from the car— a handgun that had a bullet chambered and ready to shoot,” Steele said.
“A parent has a legal responsibility to protect their children, and a handgun owner has a legal responsibility to keep their guns out of the hands of children. This defendant failed on both counts. Now a young girl is dead, and a boy is facing murder charges,” Steele added.
If Daisy Vasquez is convicted of all the charges at a trial, she faces a possible maximum sentence of 11½ to 23 years in prison.
Jah’sir Vasquez, 13, previously was charged as an adult with third-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, possession of a firearm by a minor and possessing an instrument of crime in connection with the March 19 gunshot death of his sister. He too is awaiting an April 27 preliminary hearing.
The investigation began at about 7:51 a.m. March 19, when Upper Providence police responded to the Larchwood Court residence for a report of a shooting. Arriving officers found Jasiyah Vasquez, 12, “lying on the living room floor with a single gunshot wound to her chest,” according to a criminal complaint filed by Montgomery County Detective John Wittenberger and Upper Providence Detective Sean Franchini.
While police were administering first aid to the girl, Daisy Vasquez, the mother of the children, led police to the second-floor master bedroom where she showed them a 9mm handgun under a pillow on a bed and told them that she had accidentally shot her daughter with the handgun, according to court documents.
Authorities said the gun was purchased by and registered to Daisy Vasquez, who held a valid permit to carry the firearm.
Initially, Daisy Vasquez lied to detectives and stated that she had accidentally discharged her firearm as she was attempting to unload the magazine while walking up the stairs inside her residence and that Jasiyah was walking in front of her when the gun discharged, according to court papers.
However, when confronted with alleged inconsistencies in her statement, Daisy Vasquez changed her account and stated it was her son Jah’sir who shot the victim. The woman told detectives she had instructed Jah’sir to retrieve her handgun from her locked vehicle and bring it to her bedroom to be placed in a safe.
“Shortly after, Daisy was running water for a shower and heard a gunshot. Daisy stated she did not witness the shooting,” detectives alleged in the arrest affidavit. “Daisy elaborated that she initially lied to protect her son.”
The woman told detectives that she had asked her son in the past to retrieve her handgun either from her purse or from her vehicle, as recently as March 5, according to court papers.
Daisy Vasquez also told detectives that Jasiyah and Jah’sir previously were with her at a shooting range but that Jah’sir refused to handle the gun because he was “nervous about the gun,” according to the criminal complaint.
During the investigation, detectives discovered an Xfinity home surveillance system in the kitchen area of the residence and reviewed video recorded around the time of the shooting.
Detectives alleged the surveillance video depicted Jah’sir walking into the home from outside. As Jah’sir entered the home, Jasiyah can be heard saying, “Hey you’re not supposed to step on the bag” and can be seen walking into the living room area, according to court documents.
“Jah’sir can be seen holding the handgun in his right hand, with his right arm fully extended. He appears to be pointing the handgun directly at Jasiyah and can be heard saying, what sounds like ‘shame on you earlier,’” detectives alleged. “Shortly after the gunshot is heard, Jasiyah screams, ‘mom, Jah shot me’ before collapsing on the steps that lead to the second floor.”
Detectives subsequently interviewed Jah’sir in the presence of his mother. During the interview, Jah’sir stated he was asked by his mother to retrieve the handgun from her vehicle. Jah’sir allegedly stated he located the gun in the center console and the “clip,” which was located in the vehicle separate from the handgun, according to court papers.
Jah’sir allegedly told detectives he placed the firearm in one pocket of his sweatshirt and the “clip” in the other pocket and walked inside the residence. Jah’sir stated he did not recall Jasiyah saying anything to him but that she was present on the first floor.
Jah’sir claimed he took the gun out of his pocket and it discharged and that it was an accident and that he did not want to hurt his sister, according to the arrest affidavit.
“When asked if he pointed the firearm at his sister when he entered the residence, initially he adamantly stated he did not, contrary to the video evidence but later added that he may have but doesn’t remember,” detectives alleged in the criminal complaint.
An autopsy later determined that Jasiyah died from a gunshot wound to the chest and the manner of death was ruled homicide.
The little girl’s celebration of life service was held on Saturday in Philadelphia.