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Death of man in downtown assault has prosecutors considering additional charges against two suspects
- Mark Sabbatini
- 6 hours ago
- 3 min read
Alfred Willis Torres Sr. died in recent days after April 6 attack at Marine Parking Garage by suspects he identified as his niece and nephew, according to officials
By Mark Sabbatini
Juneau Independent
This is a developing story.
A man assaulted late at night a month ago in the Marine Parking Garage died in recent days, with prosecutors stating Wednesday they are considering additional charges against two suspects as a result.
Alfred Willis Torres Sr., 53, was found semiconscious in the garage shortly after 11 p.m. April 6 by emergency officials who responded to a caller reporting the assault, according to court records. He was taken to Bartlett Regional Hospital with deep head lacerations and other traumatic facial injuries, where he told Juneau Police Department officers he was assaulted by his nephew and niece.
Devon Rivera, 29, and Chelsea Willis, 37, are each facing multiple assault-related charges as of Wednesday, according to a press release by the Alaska Department of Law. However, “the State is currently evaluating whether additional charges are appropriate in this matter.”
Posts this week on social media and an online fundraising campaign called attention to Torres’ situation, noting he had been declared brain dead and questioning why the suspects aren’t facing more serious charges. Whitney Bostic, a district attorney in Juneau, said Wednesday the press release was issued due to inquiries about the death.
“We were wanting to provide that clarification for individuals who had some questions as to why there wasn't already higher-level charges,” she said. “It's because that's a recent development.”
Bostic said she can’t say when prosecutors will make a determination about additional charges.
“We're still waiting on getting those additional records related to whether or not there's going to be any additional charges,” she said. “So once we get that information we'll be able to review it and evaluate it from there. But I don't have an exact time frame because this is an ongoing and developing situation.”
The next scheduled court appearance for Rivera and Willis is a readiness hearing on June 3. Rivera and Willis are both currently in custody.
According to the court charging document, Willis told police he was at the parking garage building with Rivera when she departed on a walk and returned with Torres, who didn’t know Willis was there.
“Willis alleged they were acting in self-defense in relation to an alleged incident that occurred years prior,” according to the charging document. “Rivera learned about this allegation and that’s why he attacked Alfred.”
Rivera and Willis were seen walking away from the building by a JPD officer responding to the scene, according to the document. Rivera resisted officers trying to detain him, kicking one in the chest in the process, according to the document.
“At the scene officers observed multiple blood spatter locations, pools of blood approximately the size of the palm of a hand, and a glass bottle was shattered and spread throughout the pools of blood and the spatter, “ the court document states.
Torres, after initial treatment at Bartlett, was airlifted to Anchorage “due to extensive facial fractures requiring surgery” before being transferred to a hospital in Seattle. A Spotfund fundraiser by his daughter, Laurie Lott, states during surgery on April 29 “he suffered a bad stroke and is fighting for his life.”
In a May 3 update at the fundraising site, Lott stated her father was declared brain dead.
As of Wednesday, Rivera is facing a felony charge of second-degree assault, and two felony charges of third-degree assault. Willis is facing a felony charge of tampering with evidence and a misdemeanor charge of fourth-degree assault. Prosecutors are also seeking “mandatory or presumptive sentencing” against Rivera due to prior felony convictions and “aggravating factors.”
• Contact Mark Sabbatini at editor@juneauindependent.com or (907) 957-2306.
