Las Vegas Walmart turned into the scene of a deadly chain of events that ended with the death of 37-year-old Benito Saragosa. The incident unfolded near Charleston Boulevard and South Decatur Boulevard over the weekend.
Saragosa was inside a black Hyundai parked outside a Walmart when the situation began. He was reportedly sleeping in the passenger seat while the engine was still running. A family member had stepped inside the store at the time.
Police say 55-year-old Harold Allen entered the vehicle without permission and drove off quickly with Saragosa still inside. The sudden theft turned into a fast-moving and dangerous ride through central Las Vegas.
As the stolen vehicle sped away, it collided with the rear of a silver minivan. The impact caused the minivan to spin out, adding more chaos to the already unfolding scene.
After the collision, the Hyundai continued northbound through the intersection of Essex and Charleston. It then slammed into a large rock and struck a light pole, bringing the vehicle to a violent stop.
Emergency responders rushed to the scene. Allen suffered minor injuries in the crash. Saragosa was found critically injured and was taken to a hospital for urgent treatment.
Despite medical efforts, Saragosa was later pronounced dead. The driver of the minivan involved in the earlier crash suffered minor injuries, while the passenger inside that vehicle was not hurt.
Police confirmed that Saragosa and Allen did not know each other before the incident. Allen was arrested and booked into the Clark County Detention Center on several serious charges, including open murder with a deadly weapon, grand larceny of a motor vehicle, and first-degree kidnapping. He is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday morning.
