Alicya Wix says she does not know how she will be the same without her sister.
Jaquoya Wix, 34, was taking a break from her shift at a Detroit Chipotle around 2:30 p.m. Sunday when she was fatally stabbed in an alley behind the restaurant, according to police cited by FOX 10. The attacker, Devon Jason Watson, 42, allegedly struck without provocation and did not know his victim, authorities said. He stabbed her multiple times before fleeing the scene.
“She got back up, at least for a second, and asked for help — and that’s just how strong my sister was,” Alicya Wix told FOX 10 in tears.
Workers at a nearby restaurant rushed to Wix’s side and chased after Watson, helping to track him down, according to WXYZ. Police then used a network of surveillance cameras to locate and arrest the suspect.
Watson, who has a long history of mental health problems, was charged with first-degree murder. He was previously convicted of assault in Wayne County, Michigan in 2010 and in Louisiana in 2024, according to ClickOnDetroit. He was denied bond at an arraignment Wednesday.
“It was a senseless crime. I just keep asking myself why,” Alicya Wix continued in her interview with the station.
Wix’s aunt, Anna Solis, struggled to process the violence her niece endured. “It’s surreal. You just can’t even imagine what she went through and what was her last thought of what happened to her,” Solis said. “Knowing she was trying to get up and move and she still wasn’t able to, it’s very hard.”
Loved ones gathered Monday at the Chipotle to honor the slain mother, lighting candles, laying flowers and saying a prayer. The beauty enthusiast, known for her love of makeup and fashion, was remembered for her creativity and generosity.
“She was a great person. She was very silly. She made some dumb mistakes, like we all do, but she always got back up no matter what it was. She always got back up,” Alicya Wix told FOX 10.
Wix’s obituary celebrated her vibrant spirit and distinctive style. “Jaquoya brought warmth, style, glamour, humor, and generosity into the lives of all who knew her,” it reads. “She loved taking care of herself and took pride in her appearance, always making sure her makeup and hair were impeccably done. She loved taking selfies, going thrifting, and expressing herself in ways that were joyful and uniquely her own.”
Family members are now rallying to support Wix’s 15-year-old daughter, whose father died several years ago. The teenager has lost both parents in a span of just a few years.
Watson’s arrest brought some relief to a community shaken by the randomness of the violence, though questions about how someone with his record and documented mental health history was in position to attack remain unanswered by authorities.
The alley behind the Chipotle where Wix took her final breaths became a makeshift memorial as Detroiters stopped to pay respects to a woman many never knew but whose death touched them nonetheless.
Watson is expected back in court for proceedings in Detroit.