Man gets 38 to life for fatal shooting outside Las Vegas Geisha House restaurant
A judge on Tuesday ordered Carim Cruz to serve 38 years to life in prison for a fatal shooting outside the Geisha House Steak & Sushi restaurant.
Cruz, 29, was convicted in June of first-degree murder, attempted murder, battery, assault and discharge of a firearm from a vehicle for the shooting that left Deanna Serrano, 33, dead.
In the early morning hours of Aug. 16, 2014, Las Vegas police responded to a shooting in the restaurant’s parking lot in the 9700 block of West Flamingo Road.
Richard Lambey, Serrano’s boyfriend at the time, described a quarrel inside the restaurant that spilled into the parking lot. Cruz had been at the restaurant with a promotional group known as the Belizean Kings, according to trial testimony.
Serrano, Lambey and others walked away toward their vehicle, and Cruz fired several shots as he drove past, according to trial testimony.
Two other people were shot, and Serrano died at the scene from a gunshot wound to the chest, authorities said.
A native of Belize, Cruz likely would be deported if he makes parole. His lawyer, Bret Whipple, said he plans to appeal the conviction.
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