KING COUNTY, Wash. — A 17-year-old has been charged in connection with the death of 15-year-old Azjanae Brooks, a case that has raised significant concern in the community. Kamario Lee Washington Onacki faces charges including first-degree murder, human trafficking, and second-degree assault. Onacki, who is being processed as an adult, pleaded not guilty during a court appearance on Thursday. He remains in custody at King County Jail with bail set at $5 million.
The tragic events unfolded on June 2, 2025, when a resident in Shoreline called emergency services after returning home to find her door ajar. Upon arrival, deputies found evidence that did not indicate forced entry. Inside, they discovered Brooks’s body, along with a bullet under a mattress cover and a 9mm cartridge nearby.
Witnesses reported hearing disturbances in the early hours of May 31, including raised voices and a noise described as a “hard hit” or gunfire. This incident prompted investigators to delve deeper, uncovering troubling details about Onacki’s background. The Arizona Department of Child Safety had flagged Onacki, indicating he was a runaway with an active felony warrant, possibly staying with his biological mother in Washington.
Authorities later confirmed that Onacki had been in contact with Brooks through social media. A parallel investigation revealed information about another individual who may have been connected to the shooting. A witness claimed that a male had shot a female and that he had been staying with someone who had previously lived with him. While initially uncooperative, this person eventually informed detectives that Onacki had stayed with him for about a week, alongside another 15-year-old girl.
In a heart-wrenching development, that teenage girl later revealed to detectives that she had been a victim of sex trafficking, having been exploited in both Seattle and Oregon. She identified Onacki as her ex-boyfriend, recalling him by the name “Trey,” and confirmed his identity through photographs. Additionally, investigators obtained video footage that appeared to show Onacki assaulting her, which formed part of the basis for the charges against him.
Warrants charging Onacki with human trafficking and promoting commercial sexual abuse were subsequently issued. He was arrested by Los Angeles police on July 4 and extradited back to King County two weeks later.
As the investigation progressed, DNA evidence linked Onacki to the apartment where Brooks’s body was discovered, intensifying scrutiny of his role in her death. The community mourned Brooks with a vigil held shortly after her passing, reflecting on her impact on those around her. Bellevue High School’s vice-principal, Matt Stokes, remarked on her caring nature, emphasizing the profound influence she had on her peers.
Azjanae Brooks, a resident of Snoqualmie, is remembered fondly by her family and friends. She leaves behind three siblings, including two younger sisters and an older brother, whose lives she touched deeply. Her untimely death has sparked an outpouring of grief, drawing attention to the issues of violence and exploitation affecting young people.