A man was killed in Las Vegas after a suspect allegedly stole a car he was sleeping in and crashed it moments later, police said.
Incident Begins in Walmart Parking Lot
According to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the incident started around 10:59 a.m. on April 11 outside a Walmart Supercenter on West Charleston Boulevard.
Police said a man in his 30s was napping in the front passenger seat of a running, unlocked Hyundai Sonata while a family member was inside the store.
Suspect Allegedly Drives Off With Passenger Inside
Authorities said a man in his 50s entered the vehicle and drove away at high speed with the sleeping passenger still inside.
Officials described the situation as a “crime of opportunity,” noting the suspect and victim did not appear to know each other.
“The man in the passenger seat woke up to another man essentially kidnapping him,” said Lt. Monique Rodriguez.
Crash Involving Multiple Vehicles
During the incident, the suspect reportedly collided with a silver minivan carrying two people, causing it to spin out.
The stolen vehicle then crashed into a pole and a nearby boulder.
Victim Pronounced Dead
The passenger in the stolen vehicle was killed in the crash. The driver of the minivan suffered minor injuries, while the passenger was not hurt. Both were taken to a hospital for evaluation.
Suspect in Custody
Police confirmed the suspect is in custody and is expected to face murder charges. Authorities also noted the suspect has an extensive criminal history.
Investigation Ongoing
Officials have not yet released the names of the victim or the suspect.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said the investigation is ongoing and additional details will be released as they become available.
