LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – A man accused of bolting from police and causing a car crash in east Las Vegas Sunday morning – after which police found his girlfriend dead from gunshot wounds in the front seat of a Ford Mustang – was in the hospital and unable to attend his first Justice Court hearing Monday, a judge said.
Julio Machado Vasquez, 24, faces a charge of open murder with a deadly weapon and is due to appear in Las Vegas Justice Court on Wednesday.
“I did find probable cause for the arrest as to all of the charges,” Amy Ferreiria, the Justice Court hearing master, said in Vasquez’s absence. Vasquez is also charged with disobeying a peace officer, resulting in deadly or bodily harm.
Police say they received a call on Sunday morning from someone who said a friend shot his girlfriend. Given Vasquez’s description, police said they tried to pull him over in traffic but, Vasquez took off and caused a multi-car crash near the intersection of east Charleston Boulevard and north Pecos Road. Police said Vasquez went to the hospital after the crash and his ensuing arrest.
Emergency personnel pronounced the woman, who will be identified by the Clark County Coroner, found dead at the scene inside of Vasquez’s car, police said.
Vasquez’s parents and several other relatives were present in the hearing room at the Regional Justice Center. They declined an in-person request for an interview outside of the courthouse Monday.
Public records indicate Vasquez is in the custody of the Clark County Detention Center, being held on no bail on the open murder charge and $20,000 on the second charge.
