Man sentenced to life in prison for 2020 shooting spree
The murder of Kevin Mendiola Jr., killed during an apparently random multistate shooting spree on Thanksgiving 2020, was “one of the most tragic things” District Judge Tierra Jones has seen in her career.
“It’s tragic for the loss of life, it’s tragic for the possibility of the loss of other lives, and it’s tragic for seeing where we are as a society in regards to mental health,” Jones said on Friday during a sentencing hearing for Christopher McDonnell, one of three people accused of the crime spree.
McDonnell, 32, pleaded guilty but mentally ill in October to 23 felony charges, including first-degree murder with a deadly weapon, conspiracy to commit murder and multiple counts of discharging a firearm at or into an occupied vehicle. Officials have said that McDonnell participated in a multi-state shooting spree with his brother, Shawn McDonnell, and his brother’s wife, Kayleigh Lewis.
Mendiola, 22, of North Las Vegas, was killed in front of a 7-Eleven on the 800 block of East Lake Mead Parkway in the early hours of Thanksgiving day on Nov. 26, 2020.
During an emotional sentencing hearing on Friday, prosecutors asked for him to be sent to prison for longer than his natural life.
Chief Deputy District Attorney Michael Schwartzer noted that although McDonnell’s mental health troubles are well documented, the judge should consider the senselessness of the shooting.
“I think that hole and that trauma that’s been forced upon this family deserves a sentence that says this is completely unacceptable and needs to be punished,” Schwartzer said.
The judge followed prosecutors’ recommended sentence, ordering McDonnell to spend life in prison with the possibility of parole in 100 years, ultimately ensuring he will never be released.
Multiple other shootings happened on Henderson roads around the same time, police have previously said. The crimes continued into the Parker, Arizona, area where authorities said three people in a sedan carried out five more shootings before they were arrested.
Shawn McDonnell is facing the death penalty in connection with the case.
A status check for Kayleigh Lewis was held on Friday in a sealed courtroom, prosecutors said. It’s unclear what happened during the hearing, but Lewis now has a status check regarding sentencing scheduled for June, according to online court records.
Her attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday.
Shawn McDonnell is still facing a terrorism charge, court records show, although the count was dropped in his brother’s case. In a statement to authorities, Christopher McDonnell said his brother told him to “shoot the Black guy” and referenced an “upcoming war.”
Christopher McDonnell has faced several competency hearings in connection with the case. His attorney, Chief Deputy Public Defender Ryan Bashor, said Friday that his client was a “troubled, troubled person,” and asked the court to consider sentencing him to about 21 to 52 years in prison.
“I have not seen so much documentation from such a young age to support his deficiencies,” Bashor said.
Christopher McDonnell apologized in a written statement during the hearing, which he asked one of his attorneys to help him read.
“I take full responsibility of my wrongdoing,” he said.
Mendiola was at the 7-Eleven that night with his girlfriend and younger brother, as they were “cruising” through the area to participate in a car show meetup before Thanksgiving, prosecutors said. Both Mendiola’s girlfriend and brother were also shot and injured.
Schwartzer said that one of Mendiola’s last acts was to shield his girlfriend from the bullets.
“He did the most heroic thing one could ever do — he saved me, and I’ll never know why,” Mendiola’s girlfriend, Jayde Libby, said during the sentencing hearing.
Multiple family members pushed for the judge to order a lengthy sentence for Christopher McDonnell.
Mendiola worked with his father in the construction industry, and was the youngest inspector working to build Allegiant Stadium when he was killed, his family said. His father, Kevin Mendiola Sr., said his family has had to live with a hole in their hearts over the past four years.
“He was a hero that night, and now he’s our angel watching over all of us,” Kevin Mendiola Sr. said.
Contact Katelyn Newberg at knewberg@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0240.