A Convicted Man Found Guilty for Shootings in Las Vegas

Posted on: October 16, 2023, 02:31h

Last updated on: October 16, 2023, 02:31h

A man was recently convicted for three 2016 shootings that resulted in the tragic deaths of two Las Vegas tourists and the injury of another individual.

The defendant, Omar Talley, 38, who had previously been convicted, has now been found guilty on two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.

A Clark County jury concluded their deliberations on Tuesday and delivered a guilty verdict.

While Talley remained emotionless upon hearing the verdict, the families of the victims were relieved that justice prevailed, as reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

The deceased victims have been identified as Jennifer Chicas and Melissa Mendoza, both aged 27 and from California.

Jerraud Jackson, the brother-in-law of Chicas who was present during the shootings, survived the incident and provided testimony against Talley during the trial. Talley also took the stand in his own defense.

Prosecutors played a recorded conversation between Talley and detectives during the trial.

“Could you stop saying I shot someone,” Talley told officers, according to Las Vegas TV station KLAS. “I didn’t shoot one, two or three people.”

“We’re not here talking to you because we think you did it,” a detective responded to Talley. “You’re here because you did it. It’s not a whodunit; it’s a you-done-it.”

Talley claimed he had consumed alcohol and used marijuana prior to the incident and stated that he had no recollection of the events.

Confrontation at Planet Hollywood

Talley initially encountered the victims at the Miracle Mile Shops parking garage at Planet Hollywood Las Vegas Resort & Casino.

An altercation occurred, during which Talley brandished a firearm. The victims quickly fled in their car, with Talley in pursuit.

The confrontation continued near the intersection of Harmon and Polaris avenues on the Las Vegas Strip. Chicas was shot and collapsed on the road, resulting in her death.

Mendoza, who was wounded, managed to drive to the valet area at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. Unfortunately, she also passed away.

Autopsies revealed that both women were shot in the chest.

Mother of Victim Finds Strength in Prayer

Tonette Mendoza, the mother of Melissa Mendoza, shared that she relied on her faith throughout the trial.

“I just prayed, let the jury see the truth,” mentioned Tonette Mendoza.

When Talley is sentenced in January, he could face several decades in prison. Originally, he was eligible for the death penalty, but the prosecution later opted against pursuing capital punishment.

According to KLAS, in an unrelated incident in 2009, Talley was convicted of first-degree kidnapping and pandering of a child. He served time in prison and was released on parole in 2015, as reported by California’s Fresno Bee news outlet.