“The man in the passenger seat woke up to another man essentially kidnapping him,” said a police lieutenant in Las Vegas
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NEED TO KNOW
- A man napping in a car at a Walmart in Las Vegas was killed after a stranger allegedly stole the vehicle and crashed it
- “The man in the passenger seat woke up to another man essentially kidnapping him,” said a police lieutenant
- Police said the suspect, a man in his 50s, drove off at a high speed, hit a minivan and crashed into a pole and boulder
A man was killed after someone allegedly stole the car he was napping in and then crashed the vehicle into a boulder.
The incident began on the morning of Saturday, April 11, outside a Walmart Supercenter in Las Vegas, according to a press briefing with Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) Lt. Monique Rodriguez.
Rodriguez said that police received a report of a traffic accident with injuries at about 10:59 a.m. local time. Upon initial investigation, officers learned that a man in his 30s had been napping in the front passenger seat of his Black Hyundai Sonata while a female family member shopped inside the Walmart at 4505 W. Charleston Blvd.
The car was running and unlocked, Rodriguez added.
Credit: Google Maps
Rodriguez said that a man in his 50s then allegedly entered the car and began driving it out of the lot at a high speed with the passenger still inside.
The driver of the stolen vehicle then rammed into a silver minivan with two occupants, causing the van to “spin out” before the suspect ultimately crashed the stolen vehicle into a pole and nearby boulder, per Rodriguez.
“This accident resulted in the death of the passenger,” she said.
Rodriguez added that the driver of the silver van sustained minor injuries, while the van’s passenger was uninjured. Both individuals were taken to a local hospital for a full examination.
Rodriguez said that the man who allegedly stole the Black Hyundai Sonata did not appear to know the man who was napping in the vehicle and that it seemed to be a “crime of opportunity."
“The man in the passenger seat woke up to another man essentially kidnapping him,” she added.
Rodriguez said that the suspect is in custody and will likely face murder charges. She added that the suspect has an “extensive criminal history.”
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Rodriguez said authorities are unable to share the names of the suspect and the victim at this time.
LVMPD did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for an update on whether charges have been filed.
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