SUSSEX, Va. — Attorney General Miyares and Sussex CA announced felony indictments related to the killing of K-9 Rivan and the assault of a correctional officer, the Sussex Commonwealth's Attorney's Office said.
On April 2, 2024, four MS-13 gang members assaulted Correctional Officer K. Phillip-Fields, stabbed to death K-9 Rivan and stabbed a prison inmate multiple times at Sussex I State Prison.
Virginia Department of Corrections investigated the incident with the Sussex County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.
"My office is proud to stand alongside Commonwealth’s Attorney Regina Sykes to defend the safety of our correctional officers,” said Attorney General Jason Miyares. “I’m thankful for the work her office and the Virginia Department of Corrections have done to investigate this case, and my office looks forward to ensuring justice and accountability is achieved in these cases."
Ronald Sanchez-Ramirez, Nelson Torres Alvarez, Axel Wilfredo Ortiz Garcia and Jose Antonio Sagastume were arraigned on June 12.
“Our office is grateful and privileged to have the office of Attorney General Jason Miyares working on this case in Sussex County. This intolerable and heinous killing of K-9 Rivan has evoked outrage in our County and in the community at large. My office concurs with this sentiment and intends to pursue justice and retribution for K-9 Rivan’s demise. My office extends its deepest condolences to K-9 Rivan’s handler, Officer K. Phillip-Fields, who has suffered a true loss and was physically assaulted during the attack of K-9 Rivan.”
The convictions are as follows:
- Ronald Sanchez-Ramirez: Killing or Injuring Police Animal, Malicious Wounding by Mob, Conspiracy to Commit Malicious Wounding by Mob, Gang Participation, Assault & Battery of a Law-Enforcement Officer, Stabbing in the Commission of a Felony, and Prisoner in Possession of a Deadly Weapon
- Nelson Torres Alvarez: Killing or Injuring Police Animal, Conspiracy to Commit Malicious Wounding by Mob, Gang Participation, Assault & Battery of a Law-Enforcement Officer, and Prisoner in Possession of a Deadly Weapon
- Axel Wilfredo Ortiz Garcia: Malicious Wounding by Mob, Conspiracy to Commit Malicious Wounding by Mob, Gang Participation, Prisoner in Possession of a Deadly Weapon, and Stabbing in the Commission of a Felony
- Jose Antonio Sagastume: Malicious Wounding by Mob, Gang Participation, and Conspiracy to Commit Malicious Wounding by Mob
“All loss of life is tragic. The loss of those who are the most vulnerable and defenseless even more so. The Sussex County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office values the ultimate sacrifice K-9 Rivan made and rest in knowing that his death will not be in vain. Previously, this office with the assistance of the Attorney General’s Office successfully tried and convicted six MS-13 gang members for a similar case where K-9 Tobi was stabbed in the lung but survived and his handler and another correctional officer were stabbed multiple times and survived at the same Sussex State Prison,” said Sussex Commonwealth’s Attorney Regina Sykes.
