LAS VEGAS (AP) – One of three suspects jailed in Las Vegas, United States following a deadly two-state shooting rampage on Thanksgiving 2020, including the killing of a man at a convenience store in southern Nevada and a shootout with authorities in northwestern Arizona, has pleaded guilty.
Christopher McDonnell, 32, entered his pleas to 23 felonies, including murder, attempted murder, murder conspiracy, weapon charges and being a felon illegally in possession of a firearm, according to Clark County District Court records.
He had been indicted on 55 counts, and his trial had been scheduled for next month.
A felony charge of committing an act of terrorism was among counts dropped as part of his plea agreement.
“Christopher decided taking responsibility for his actions was in his best interest,” his attorney, Ryan Bashor, said.
McDonnell remains jailed without bail in Las Vegas. His plea was first reported by KLAS-TV.
McDonnell will face life in prison with a broad range of parole eligibility – a minimum of 21 years and a maximum 164 years, prosecutor Michael Schwartzer said, adding that he will seek a sentence “beyond (McDonnell’s) natural life term”.
Sentencing is scheduled on December 13.
Bashor said he hopes to win a more lenient sentence.
Police and prosecutors said the 11-hour rampage began on November 26, 2020, and included apparently random shootings that killed Kevin Mendiola Jr at a convenience store in Henderson, near Las Vegas, and drive-by gunfire that wounded several other people.
