LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — "Crime of opportunity."
Those are the words police used to describe an auto theft that resulted in a kidnapping, crash, and one person dead on Saturday.
It happened around 11 a.m. in the 4000 block of Charleston Boulevard, between Valley View and Decatur, according to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.
Authorities were responding to the report of a crash with injuries involving a black Hyundai Sonata and a silver minivan.
Crime
Suspect held on no bail in Las Vegas car theft that led to deadly crash
Lt. Monique Rodriguez said a man was apparently in the shopping center parking lot, napping inside the black Hyundai while it was still running. Authorities believe the driver of the vehicle had gone into the store, while the man was sitting in the passenger seat.
Watch the full briefing from Rodriguez here:
While the driver was inside the store, a suspect got into the vehicle and took the car with the passenger still inside.
As the suspect sped away, he hit the back of the silver minivan, police said.
The suspect received minor injuries in the crash and was taken to a local hospital.
The passenger in the Hyundai was taken to a local hospital with critical injuries and was later pronounced deceased. He has since been identified as 37-year-old Benito Saragosa, of Las Vegas.
The driver of the minivan reported minor injuries, and the passenger didn't report any injuries, police said. Both were taken to a hospital for further evaluation.
Rodriguez said the suspect will face charges of open murder and kidnapping.
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Body camera footage shows aftermath of fatal shooting at Smith's (courtesy of LVMPD)
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