‘That one punch killed my son’: Parents of victim in deadly Richmond assault weigh in after latest court date

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — The parents of 27-year-old Jacob Baldwin, who died days after he was assaulted in Richmond's Scott's Addition neighborhood, are weighing in after the most recent court date for the man accused of attacking him. A Richmond City Circuit Court judge denied the appeal of the Commonwealth to deny 27-year-old Nico Rivera of Mechanicsville a bond after he was charged with Jacob Baldwin's second-degree murder. In the latest ruling on Wednesday, Oct. 23, the judge raised Rivera's bond amount to $150,000 after it was initially set at $15,000 in general district court. Along with the increased bond amount, Rivera is to adhere to Home Electronic Monitoring (HEM) and cannot leave to go anywhere but attorney meetings, medical appointments or in relation to his HEM. 8News was in the courtroom early Monday morning for the hearing and heard all arguments before the judge made her final ruling. MORE: ‘A rage in his eyes’: Attorneys share arguments at bond hearing in Scott’s Addition deadly assault case “[Rivera is] going to be in the comfort of his own bed with his family," said Jeff Baldwin, Jacob Baldwin’s father, in response to the decision to allow Rivera to return home. "He's going to get to spend the holidays there and be comfortable. We're never going to get any time with our son again and that's all because of [Rivera's] actions and his decisions.” Baldwin's parents spoke with 8News following the bond appeal hearing and expressed they were pleased with the bond amount increase but stressed the need for accountability. Jacob Baldwin (Photo: Renee Baldwin)Jacob Baldwin (Photo: Renee Baldwin)Jacob Baldwin (Right) (Photo: Renee Baldwin)Jacob Baldwin (Right) (Photo: Renee Baldwin) "People make bad decisions every day, and whether it's fair or not, there have to be consequences -- because his decisions changed many, many people's lives for the negative," Jeff Baldwin said. PREVIOUS: ‘Parents aren’t supposed to bury their children’: One person in custody over a week after deadly assault in Richmond Rivera is accused of striking Baldwin in his face or head during an altercation with him on Oct 12. According to court documents, Baldwin then fell back onto the pavement, striking the back of his head. He died four days later. In response to the Commonwealth's explanation of more on what took place during the incident, the defense responded by explaining the matter was "a single-punch case" and, while the results were tragic, if things had gone differently, this would have been a matter of assault and battery. "That one punch killed my son," said Renee Baldwin, Jacob Baldwin's mother. "It's devastating. I mean, all of this is devastating. Devastating to our lives. Our lives aren't the same." PREVIOUS: ‘How very loved he was’: Family begs for answers after deadly assault in Scott’s Addition 8News asked the defense for comment, who said neither they nor the Rivera family would comment on the matter at this time. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Rivera at 1 p.m. on Dec. 5 in the City's General District Court.