Las Vegas judge sentences security guard to prison for killing customer during COVID-19 pandemic

Yahoo

2 days ago

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — 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 deadlyweapon.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.'
Report: Man was not armed, did not reach for security guard's firearm during deadly altercation
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.
Mitchell is then seen pulling out her gun and pointing it at Martin's face. Mitchell removed Martin from the store and shot him shortly after.
New video obtained in murder case; viewer alleges same security guard in violent altercation weeks before
One year after the incident, a viewer reached out to 8 News Now with a cell phone video of Mitchell acting violently toward a woman in the store parking lot just weeks before the fatal shooting. Mitchell was seen yelling and cursing at a woman for throwing a bottle at her. Sheholds the woman's hair and drags her on the concrete, slapping her across the face and knocking her down to the ground with her knee.
'We learn about another video, an uncharged act from 19 days before where we watched Ms. Mitchell treating another customer like an animal,' Clark County Chief Deputy District Attorney Chris Hamner said.Mitchell told detectives that she had recently received her gun as a Mother's Day gift. She failed her first firearms training and wished that she had never pulled out the gun, according to prosecutors.
Mitchell's defense team asked Jones to give Mitchell probation.
'I was asking myself why was there even an arrest?' defense attorney Scott Bindrup said.
Court marshals escorted Mitchell out of the courtroom in handcuffs.
'I didn't mean to take this man's life, I did not,' Mitchell said as she wept. 'I am truly sorry from the bottom of my heart.'This is a developing story.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.