Prison terms for two participants in fatal Tacoma robbery

Two people were sentenced to state prison Friday for their roles in a fatal Tacoma robbery.

Ariel Abrejera, who pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery, got three years, five months. Daniel Davis, who pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, got 21 years, five months.

Originally charged with first-degree murder and other crimes, the two got the benefit of plea deals with Pierce County prosecutors after turning state’s evidence against two other co-defendants.

The victim was Donald Phily, 42.

Daniel Davis, Marcus Reed and Damien Davis hatched a plan to rob Phily, who they thought might have money, electronics or other valuables, court records show.

Reed, 27, later recruited Abrejera, a childhood friend, to drive the getaway car.

On March 29, 2013, Daniel Davis, 27, and Reed went to Phily’s room at a local motel and knocked on the door, records show. Prosecutors believe Reed shot Phily in the chest as the victim opened the door.

A Pierce County jury convicted Reed and Damien Davis, 32, of first-degree murder and other counts earlier this month. They’re to be sentenced Tuesday.

In court Friday, Abrejera, 24, apologized to Phily’s mother, Linda Phily, who sat in the gallery.

“No one deserves to lose a loved one because of another person’s greed,” Abrejera said.

Daniel Davis, no relation to his co-defendant of the same last name, also apologized to Linda Phily.

“If I could take it all back, I would,” he said. “A lot of families got hurt because of my actions.”

Linda Phily presented two letters to the court penned by her dead son’s siblings and asked that Daniel Davis be required to read them.

“I just want him to know how he hurt a family so deeply,” she said.

Linda Phily also expressed her frustration with the bargains prosecutors made with Abrejera and Daniel Davis, saying she believed they should get equal punishment as the other defendants, who face long prison terms.

Deputy prosecutor Jesse Williams acknowledged her feelings but said the deals were necessary to win convictions against the most culpable parties.

“Her frustration and sadness are understandable,” Williams said.

This story was originally published November 20, 2015 at 6:11 PM with the headline "Prison terms for two participants in fatal Tacoma robbery."