LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — One of three people accused in a cross-state crime spree, that left one man dead and several others injured, pleaded guilty Thursday and could spend the rest of his life in prison.
Christopher McDonnell, 32, pleaded guilty to 23 felonies stemming from the Thanksgiving 2020 shootings, documents said. Christopher McDonnell, his brother, Shawn McDonnell, 34; and Shawn McDonnell’s then-wife, Kayleigh Lewis, 29, originally faced dozens of charges.
The trio is accused of driving around Henderson and randomly shooting at people, killing Kevin Mendiola Jr. at a 7-Eleven on Lake Mead Parkway. They then drove into Arizona, where there were additional shootings, including one involving a police officer. All three were arrested after their car rolled over.
A jury trial for all three defendants was scheduled to begin Nov. 4. That trial remained scheduled for Shawn McDonnell and Kayleigh Lewis as of Thursday.
In 2022, Lewis’ lawyers asked a judge to disjoin her case from the two others. Lewis’ lawyers alleged their client was the victim of domestic violence, noting a black eye seen in her booking photo. She later filed for divorce from jail.
Christopher McDonnell’s plea did not include a specific time frame for which he agreed to serve in prison. A judge will sentence him in December.
