LAS VEGAS — A man has confessed to two counts of first-degree murder related to a shooting that resulted in the death of two homeless individuals and injuries to three others. At age 32, Cristobal Omar Perez admitted to the charges just one day before his trial was scheduled to commence, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. With this plea, he faces a sentence ranging from 40 years to life in prison, which will be determined on April 8.
Prosecutors have indicated that charges could escalate if a third victim, who remains in critical condition, succumbs to the injuries sustained in the incident. The situation unfolds from a December 1, 2023, shooting near a freeway overpass in the northeastern segment of Las Vegas. Authorities reported that the assailant, after being dropped off by a black SUV, unleashed 14 rounds indiscriminately at a gathering of homeless people before being retrieved by the same vehicle. Investigators initially hypothesized that the attack had been premeditated.
The arrest documentation revealed that Perez allegedly acted out of a desire to “protect his family” following an attempted burglary at his sister-in-law’s residence. She had reportedly identified a man who resembled the intruder at a gas station by a homeless camp, prompting Perez to confront the individual.
Police accounts suggest that Perez’s girlfriend, Kylee Au Young, was involved, providing transportation with a predetermined rendezvous nearby. Her trial is ongoing as she faces two counts of open murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
Defense lawyer Frank Kocka highlighted that Perez accepted responsibility for his actions, leading to the dismissal of other charges as part of a negotiated plea agreement.