The same day he was released from jail, a man in Washington state allegedly killed a drug dealer using a 34-pound air compressor and a chair, authorities said.
Christopher Charles Reyes, 47, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of William Akers, 56. The incident occurred on November 27 in Tacoma, Washington... Continue reading here ▶
Police responded to a 911 call about “unknown trouble” at a residence on South Oakes Street. A friend found Akers lying in a pool of blood in the garage. An orange air compressor was resting on Akers’ arm, and the friend said Akers’ body felt cold and stiff.
When investigators arrived, they found Akers had been severely beaten. His face showed bruising and swelling, and a chair and air compressor near him were covered in blood, hair, and tissue.
One of the chair’s legs was bent almost to the point of breaking. Akers was wearing two pairs of pants, and the outer pair had been pulled down, with one pocket turned inside out, as if someone had searched it. A small amount of cash was found nearby.
An autopsy revealed Akers suffered multiple skull fractures, a broken nose and ribs, and punctured lungs. He had $1,700 and suspected narcotics on him, officials said.
On December 4, an anonymous tip led police to a woman who had been released from jail on the same day as Reyes. She told investigators she had been with Reyes at the time of the killing.
According to her, they went to Akers’ home, where she received narcotics from him. After getting high in her car with Reyes, he said he was going back inside to get more drugs.
She believed Reyes planned to buy more drugs, but he also mentioned owing a fentanyl dealer, making his intentions unclear.
When Reyes returned to the car, she noticed what appeared to be blood on his arm. He allegedly told her, “I think I killed that guy.”
The woman said she and her sister drove Reyes to a Motel 6 but quickly left him there.
Reyes was arrested on Monday. He admitted to meeting the woman after his jail release, spending time with her and her sister, and going to Akers’ home. In a call to his mother, he allegedly admitted, “The only reason I got clean was because this happened … this is what happened.”
Reyes has a criminal history dating back to 2001, including a prison sentence in 2018 for assault. He was jailed for probation violations in September and November of 2024, with his final release occurring on the day of the murder.
Reyes is being held in Pierce County Jail on $2 million bail. He is scheduled to appear in court on February 5.
