was identified by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FC) as the owner of the boat that killed Ella while she was wakeboarding on Saturday near a beach in Key Biscayne, Fla., PEOPLE previously reported, citing an incident report.
“We are devastated for the Adler’s, for their friends, their family, there’s no question in our minds that this is a absolutely horrific thing that happened and we pray for and think of their family and friends during this time,” Alonso’s attorney Lauren Field Kras Off said in a statement, per NBC 6, which was the first to report on it.
The accident took place when Ella was wakeboarding with another friend, the incident report stated. Before she was struck, Ella fell into the water. Alonso’s vessel then allegedly “traversed” the area and “struck” Ella before leaving the scene.
“If his boat was involved, I can tell you he had absolutely no idea that that is what happened that day. He is as devastated as anybody could be,” she said, per the outlet.
The incident report by FWC states Alonso is the owner of the boat, but a FWC spokesperson told PEOPLE that it’s not clear if Alonso was the operator of the boat. There was only one person on his boat at the time of the accident, per the incident report.
On Tuesday, FWC announced they had seized a vessel that “fits the description” of the one involved in the crash and that Alonso had been cooperating with authorities.
In her statement, Kransoff emphasized that Alonso was cooperating with police, as well as “with anybody that has needed to investigate what happened on the water that day,” per NBC 6.
“He has had no contact with the criminal system. He does not drink, and he was not drinking on that Saturday,” she said.
In footage shared by NBC 6 on Thursday, a man identified as Alonso was seen stepping out of his car and heading inside his residence with Kra Sofa’s assistance.
Ballerina, 15, Killed While Waterskiing by Boater Who Allegedly Didn’t Stop — and Suspect Remains at Large
Vessel seized in investigation into death of Ella Adler, killed by boat in Biscayne Bay
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Ella was the granddaughter of U.S. Ambassador to Belgium Michael M. Adler, CBS previously reported. She was a “star” ballerina and a “force of nature,” an obituary read.
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