Aliante Casino Murder Suspect Made Threats Before Attack

Ahead of a violent crime spree across Las Vegas, Nevada, the main suspect was nearly captured by police after he sent threatening messages to a woman. The string of crimes started early in the morning Thursday and resulted in one person losing his life and several others being injured and carjacked.

Suspect Faces Serious Charges

As announced by local media outlets, law enforcement identified a 19-year-old man with the initials A.W. as a prime suspect for the crime spree. The man was detained after a car chase and according to KTNV Las Vegas, he was booked into the North Las Vegas Community Correctional Center. The suspect is facing a couple of charges, including robbery with a deadly weapon and open murder with a deadly weapon.

In Nevada, robbery is recognized as a category B felony and if a person is found guilty on such charge may be sentenced to between two and 15 years in prison. It’s worth noting that the use of a deadly weapon for a robbery, which is the case for the charge of the 19-year-old suspect, can greatly increase the sentence.

On the other hand, the suspect is also facing murder charges. In Nevada, a murder in the first degree can be subject to tough penalties, including life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, life imprisonment with the possibility of parole after serving a minimum of 20 years or a sentence of 50 years in prison with eligibility for parole after serving a minimum of 20 years.

Besides the 19-year-old suspect, police identified a second person who was present at the time of the murder and carjacking but exited the car ahead of the pursuit by law enforcement. It is unclear if that man was detained and whether or not they are facing charges.

Threats Against a Woman Made the Day Before the Crime Spree

On Wednesday, law enforcement responded to a domestic disturbance call after the 19-year-old suspect allegedly sent a threatening message to a woman. Officer Roberto Vaquera explained that the suspect “sent the victim a threatening text message asking her if she wanted to die.” While police responded to the call, the suspect had already fled the scene in a Mercedes sedan, which had “unique markings,” as described by law enforcement.

The next morning, the crime spree began with a fatal shooting at the Aliante hotel casino. The 19-year-old, suspected of being responsible for the killing, left the area together with another man in what is believed to be the same Mercedes sedan. On site at the Aliante hotel casino, a 23-year-old man, the son of a former state senator, succumbed to his wounds.

After fleeing the shooting scene, the suspect allegedly went on a crime spree, carjacking several cars at gunpoint. Ahead of him being chased down by law enforcement, the second person exited the vehicle, as explained by Vaquera. Police haven’t confirmed what the motive of the suspect for the murder or the unprovoked crime spree that shook Las Vegas was.