A Kent auto mechanic who was brutally assaulted at his shop in May 2024 has died after spending nearly a year in a vegetative state.
Elvis Anolin Duran-Reyes, 56, passed away on April 24, according to a GoFundMe campaign organized by his daughter, Katrina Ven, of Seattle.
“My father suffered a traumatic brain injury from a senseless attack,” Ven wrote. “He spent the last 11 months of his life in a vegetative state, and I never left his side.”
The violent assault occurred on May 8, 2024, at V.M. Auto Repair, located on 84th Avenue South. According to charging documents from King County prosecutors, 32-year-old Abdi Osman Abdi allegedly punched, kicked, and stomped on Duran-Reyes during a confrontation, reportedly over a dispute related to payment for vehicle repairs.
The King County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed Duran-Reyes’ death in an April 28 report. The final determination on his cause and manner of death is still pending. The King County Prosecutor’s Office is awaiting the full autopsy report and may consider upgrading the existing assault charge based on the findings.
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At the time of the attack, Abdi was accused of arriving at the shop with a woman, yelling at Duran-Reyes, and pushing him into a metal pole. As Duran-Reyes lay on the ground, Abdi allegedly continued the assault by punching him and then kicking him repeatedly in the head outside the garage. The attacker fled the scene in a vehicle with the woman before police arrived.
Officers responding to the call found Duran-Reyes unconscious on the ground. He was rushed to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where he remained in the ICU for four months before being transferred to a nursing facility. Despite showing slight improvements, he never regained consciousness.
Detectives used surveillance footage and Department of Licensing records to link Abdi and the vehicle he used to the crime. Cellphone data showed his movements from Seattle to the Kent area around the time of the assault. Police arrested him on May 29, 2024. He was later released on $50,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in court on May 5.
According to court records, Abdi admitted to the assault, claiming he lost control after the mechanic allegedly spat at him. Investigators also found threatening messages he had previously sent to Duran-Reyes.
Katrina Ven described her father as a devoted family man and hardworking entrepreneur who built his auto repair shop from the ground up.
“He dedicated his life to his work and to supporting us,” she wrote. “Losing him, and eventually having to let go of the shop he loved, was devastating. It wasn’t just a business—it was his dream.”
She added, “He was full of life and left a mark on everyone he met. We’re heartbroken by the suffering he endured and are doing everything we can to honor his legacy.”
The family is currently accepting support through their GoFundMe page as they navigate the emotional and financial burdens left behind.
