Texas Man Sentenced to 100 Years for Fatal Shootings in Nevada and Arizona
LAS VEGAS—A Las Vegas judge has imposed a 100-year prison sentence on a Texas man for his involvement in a two-state shooting spree that took place on Thanksgiving 2020, resulting in the death of one individual in Nevada and a confrontation with law enforcement in Arizona.
Christopher McDonnell, 32, entered a guilty plea in October to over 20 felonies, which included murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, weapons offenses, and being a convicted felon unlawfully in possession of a firearm.
On Friday, Clark County District Judge Tierra Jones sentenced him to a minimum of 100 years behind bars, according to KLAS-TV. If he lives until then, he could be eligible for parole in 2120, factoring in his time served.
Hailing from Tyler, Texas, McDonnell was initially charged alongside his brother, Shawn McDonnell, 34, and Shawn’s then-spouse, Kayleigh Lewis, 29, who collectively faced multiple charges.
Authorities report that the group embarked on an 11-hour crime spree on November 26, 2020, conducting seemingly random shootings that resulted in the death of Kevin Mendiola Jr., 22, at a convenience store in Henderson, near Las Vegas, and drive-by shootings that injured several others.
The assault continued into Arizona, where additional shootings occurred, including an incident involving a police officer. All three suspects were apprehended after their vehicle overturned.
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Prosecutors reported that Lewis served as the driver while the two brothers indiscriminately fired from the windows of the vehicle. Both Shawn McDonnell and Lewis are currently awaiting their trials.
The violent spree concluded near Parker, Arizona, close to the Colorado River, following a police pursuit, a rollover crash involving a Texas-registered vehicle, and the injury of Shawn McDonnell from gunfire from officers armed with assault-style rifles, according to police sources.
