LAS VEGAS (TCN) — A man who was initially charged with 55 felonies pleaded guilty but mentally ill to about half of them in connection with a crime spree over Thanksgiving 2020 that killed one and injured many others.
Clark County court records show Christopher McDonnell entered the plea Oct. 10, just a few weeks before his jury trial was scheduled to begin. Some of McDonnell’s 55 charges included act of terrorism, conspiracy to commit murder, murder with use a deadly weapon, multiple counts of attempted murder, and discharging firearm at or into occupied dwelling.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports McDonnell entered the plea for first-degree murder with a deadly weapon, conspiracy to commit murder, and several counts of discharging a firearm. His co-conspirators — his brother Shawn McDonnell and ex-sister-in-law Kayleigh Lewis — are still awaiting trial for the same charges.
According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the crime spree began on Thanksgiving — Nov. 26, 2020 — in Henderson, Nevada. The McDonnell brothers and Lewis reportedly shot at cars seemingly at random. Just before 1 a.m., they entered a 7-Eleven parking lot and opened fire on a group of people. Twenty-two-year-old Kevin Mendiola died. Mendiola’s girlfriend, brother, and another bystander were injured. The group reportedly continued to shoot at random people in cars.
They were captured 200 miles away in Bouse, Arizona, when an Arizona Highway Patrol officer engaged them in a pursuit. The suspects drove off the road and the car rolled over. All three were then hospitalized for injuries sustained in the crash. The Clark County District Attorney’s Office indicted them in March 2021.
Christopher McDonnell was reportedly on parole for felony assault in Texas when the crimes occurred.
Shawn McDonnell and Lewis wed in Las Vegas on Nov. 7, 2020. District Attorney Steven Wolfson told the newspaper at the time, “I would compare the crime spree to a Bonnie and Clyde situation. It’s incredible how many people they shot at.”
KLAS-TV reports Lewis filed for divorce while in jail.
Christopher McDonnell could be sentenced to more than his natural life in prison.
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