Teen Charged With Killing 12-Year-Old Given Bond
FORT LAUDERDALE (CBS4) - Seventeen-year-old Jose Torres will be facing charges as an adult for the shooting of 12-year-old Anthony Alejandre in October. But, he was granted $9,100 bond, despite a prosecution request for bond of $250,000.
In addition, if his family can come up with $910, or 10 percent of the bond to get Torres released, he will have to wear a GPS monitor, is forbidden to possess any kind of weapon, and must have no contact with the victim's family.
Alejandre was on life support for several days before he died on October 15. He suffered massive injuries to the face after Torres allegedly shot him in the right cheek with a handgun. The bullet severed Anthony's spinal cord before exiting his body through the left shoulder blade.
Detectives originally charged Torres with attempted manslaughter as a juvenile, but after Alejandre's death, his case has been moved to adult court and he now faces charges of: manslaughter with a firearm, tampering with physical evidence, and five counts of possession of a firearm by a minor.
Detectives said Torres had an extensive collection of weapons hidden in a suitcase under his bed. It included guns, swords, knives and brass knuckles.
Some of Torres' classmates at Deerfield Beach High told CBS4 they knew Torres had a collection but nothing of this magnitude. Torres' parents say they knew nothing of the arsenal and Alejandre's family say they too were in the dark.
Torres' father was the godfather to Anthony, but relations between the families have been strained after the shooting.
According to BSO, Torres initially told detectives that Alejandre was playing with the gun and accidentally shot himself in the face. Detectives found the weapon had been stolen during a Deerfield Beach home burglary four months ago.
Since Alejandre's injuries didn't appear to be self-inflicted, detectives continued to question Torres. According to BSO, Torres changed his story and said he shot Alejandre with the .38 caliber handgun and then placed the pistol in Anthony's hand.
