FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Kate Delano 610-312-3487 cell

MOTHER CHARGED IN RELATION TO FATAL SHOOTING

OF HER DAUGHTER BY HER SON

NORRISTOWN, Pa. (March 29, 2021) — Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele and Upper Providence Township Police Chief Mark A. Toomey announce the arrest of Daisy Vasquez, 31, on charges related to the fatal shooting of her daughter by her son, Jah’sir Vasquez, at the family’s residence in the Collegeville area of Upper Providence Township.

On March 19, 2021, at approximately 7:51 a.m., Upper Providence Police responded to a reported shooting inside a residence on Larchwood Court. Responding officers found 12-year-old Jasiyah Vasquez lying on the living room with a single gunshot wound to her chest. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Montgomery County Detective Bureau and Upper Providence Police launched a joint investigation into the homicide and the events surrounding the death. The investigation found that Daisy Vasquez asked her son Jah’sir to go outside to her car to retrieve a 9mm handgun that was legally owned by her. The home surveillance video recovered by detectives shows the shooting. It depicts Jah’sir entering the house with the handgun in his right hand and then pointing it at Jasiyah. Seconds later, while Jah’sir had the gun pointed in his sister’s direction, it discharged, and Jasiyah collapsed. Daisy Vasquez subsequently lied to detectives about the events that led up to the death of her daughter, whose funeral was on Saturday, March 27.

“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,” said DA Steele. “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.”

Daisy Vasquez turned herself in today to detectives to face third-degree felony charges of Endangering Welfare of Children, Possession of a Firearm by a Minor–Responsibility of Adult, and Hindering Apprehension or Prosecution, related to lying to detectives. She is also charged with misdemeanor Recklessly Endangering Another Person. Vasquez was arraigned before Magisterial District Court Judge Richard H. Welsh, who set bail at $50,000 unsecured, with a condition of bail being that the defendant is not allowed to possess a firearm. A preliminary hearing is set for 1 p.m., April 27, 2021 before Judge Welsh.

The case will be prosecuted by Assistant Chief of Trials Brianna Ringwood, who oversees the Family Protection Unit.

                                      Approved for release:

                                      Kevin R. Steele

CRIMINAL CHARGES, AND ANY DISCUSSION THEREOF, ARE MERELY ALLEGATIONS AND ALL DEFENDANTS ARE PRESUMED INNOCENT UNTIL AND UNLESS PROVEN GUILTY.