Gov’t will not appeal acquittal in slaying of environmentalist

Roberto Viqueira Ríos was a marine biologist and director of the environmental organization Protectores de Cuencas. (Facebook via Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales)

By THE STAR STAFF

The Puerto Rico Department of Justice announced Wednesday that it will not appeal a Feb. 6 ruling issued by Judge Ángel Llavona Folguera, in which he acquitted a nurse who argued he killed his neighbor, Roberto Viqueira Ríos, in self-defense.

The decision against appealing the Pueblo v. Eduardo Meléndez Velázquez acquittal follows what the agency described as a “thorough and responsible evaluation” led by Solicitor General Omar Andino Figueroa.

Justice Secretary Lourdes Gómez Torres met earlier Wednesday with the widow of Roberto Viqueira Ríos, Moshayra Vicente Cruz, and members of her family, accompanied by the solicitor general and Chief of Prosecutors Juan Ramos García. During the meeting, officials personally explained the decision not to pursue an appeal, emphasizing that the choice was made out of respect for the family and after rigorous legal review.

The Justice Department stressed that the prosecutorial team acted with “rigor, professionalism, and firm commitment” in its pursuit of justice for Viqueira Ríos and his relatives. While the agency reiterated its disagreement with the court’s ruling, it affirmed that the Constitution and the independence of the judiciary must be respected.

As the case comes to a close, the Justice Department pledged continued support to the victim’s family through the Office of Compensation and Services to Crime Victims and Witnesses. The statement concluded by underscoring that the death of Roberto Viqueira Ríos “will not be relegated to silence” and that prosecutors will honor his memory “with rigor, transparency, and an unwavering commitment to the justice the People of Puerto Rico demand.”

Viqueira Ríos, 49, was a marine biologist and director of the environmental organization Protectores de Cuencas. Meléndez Velázquez, 45, is a nurse and neighbor of the victim.

The two were longtime neighbors in the Estancias de Yidomar community in Yauco and reportedly had an ongoing dispute dating back to at least 2020.

In the original charges, on July 15, 2025, Meléndez allegedly entered the couple’s residence armed and fired shots, killing Viqueira Ríos and endangering his wife. Prosecutors charged him with first-degree murder, attempted murder, aggravated burglary, and weapons violations. However, conflicting evidence in the form of videos showed Viqueira Ríos firing first from his home. Meléndez then fired back from the sidewalk near his own home.

The court concluded Meléndez acted in legitimate self‑defense, responding to being shot at. The judge emphasized that Meléndez had fired from a public sidewalk, not inside the victim’s home, according to video evidence. Despite acknowledging Meléndez’s extreme response (22 bullets), the judge ruled that the legal threshold for self‑defense had been met.