In the early morning hours of March 29, 2021, just two days before his 35th birthday, Richard Ricky Alva, a 34-year-old Hispanic male from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was fatally shot. The incident occurred shortly after 5:00 a.m. near the 2300 block of W. Scott Street on the city's south side. Richard, a father of six with another child on the way, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Known to his loved ones as a hardworking man with a "heart of Gold," he was a member of the Local 113 Laborers Union and a passionate fan of the Milwaukee Bucks and Green Bay Packers. His sudden and violent death left a profound void in the lives of his family and friends.
The investigation into Richard's death was swiftly launched by the Milwaukee police, who treated it as a homicide from the outset. Surveillance footage recovered from the alley where the shooting took place became a critical piece of evidence. The video reportedly captured the moments leading up to the shooting, showing Alva talking with two individuals. The footage then showed the two suspects backing away from an unarmed Alva while extending their arms, firing multiple shots at him before fleeing the scene.
The investigation led to the identification and arrest of two suspects in connection with the murder of Richard Alva. Santos M. Solier, 25, and Bryell C. Bonds, 26, were charged with first-degree intentional homicide, party to a crime. In September 2022, Bryell C. Bonds pleaded guilty to the charge. Following a trial, Santos M. Solier was found guilty in February 2023. Both men faced the possibility of life in prison for their roles in the death of Richard Alva.
