A Las Vegas security guard was sentenced to spend between five and 14 years in prison for fatally shooting a customer outside a 7-Eleven convenience store during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kegia Mitchell tearfully apologized on Thursday after she entered an Alford plea for the August 2020 death of 56-year-old Thomas Martin.
“I didn’t mean to take this man’s life, I did not,” Mitchell cried out in court. “I am truly sorry from the bottom of my heart.”
The deal means she doesn’t plead guilty to the murder of Martin but acknowledges that prosecutors may have enough evidence for a conviction, according to KLAS.
Mitchell was tasked with regulating the number of customers permitted into the convenience store in Las Vegas’ northeast section on August 26 when Martin cut the line and attempted to enter.
Martin was blocked and began complaining that Mitchell was refusing to let him in while she had allowed other customers through the checkpoint.
The two began arguing as Martin cursed at the security guard, threatening Mitchell before breaking past and into the store, the outlet reported.
Mitchell grabbed the angry customer and the two shoved each other before she took out a handgun and pointed it at Martin’s face, according to security footage of the incident.
The armed security guard led Martin out of the store with her gun inches from his head.
Martin turned around and attempted to swat the gun out of Mitchell’s hands when a shot rang out. --->READ MORE HERE
A judge sentenced a former security guard to five and a half to 14 years in prison for shooting and killing a customer during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kegia Mitchell entered an Alford plea, meaning she doesn’t admit guilt but acknowledges prosecutors may have enough evidence to lead to a conviction at trial on two felony charges, including voluntary manslaughter with use of a deadly weapon and assault with a deadly weapon.
A grand jury previously indicted Mitchell for murder with use of a deadly weapon in connection with the shooting death of 56-year-old Thomas Martin at a 7-Eleven convenience store on Aug. 26, 2020.
Clark County District Court Judge Tierra Jones acknowledged the case is a difficult one, the challenges some workers faced during the pandemic, and the need to protect both Mitchell’s rights and the community. She said what stood out was that the shooting occurred outside the store.
“It’s not what took place in the store that’s the biggest issue,” Jones said. “It’s what took place outside the store that’s the biggest issue.”
The 8 News Now Investigators obtained video at the center of the criminal case, in which Mitchell is seen limiting the number of customers in the store due to COVID-19 protocol. Martin was upset that Mitchell was letting in other people before him, cursed at her, threatened to harm her, and busted into the store, according to detectives. Mitchell grabbed him, they shoved each other, and another employee stepped in. --->READ MORE HEREFollow links below to relevant/related stories and resources:
What is summer COVID? Two new strains going around
Moderna COVID vaccine gets full approval for children
USA TODAY: Coronavirus Updates
WSJ: Coronavirus Live Updates
YAHOO NEWS: Coronavirus Live Updates
NEW YORK POST: Coronavirus The Latest
If you like what you see, please "Like" and/or Follow us on FACEBOOK here, GETTR here, and TWITTER here.
No comments:
Post a Comment