LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — A Clark County judge has ruled that a 19-year-old accused of crashing into 12 cars in Las Vegas last November, killing three people, will face murder charges.
Jose Gutierrez, 19, is being held without bail on felony charges of murder with a deadly weapon, reckless driving resulting in death, attempted murder with a deadly weapon, and battery.
Prosecutors argue the crash was intentional. Witnesses testified during Gutierrez's preliminary hearing that they saw him drive at high speed into stopped traffic at Jones Boulevard and Cheyenne Avenue, and that he didn't appear to brake or otherwise try to avoid a collision.
Local News
Police release body camera footage showing aftermath of fatal 12-car crash
Gutierrez's attorney, Thomas Moskal, told Judge Michelle Leavitt on Wednesday that allowing Gutierrez to be tried for murder will create a slippery slope for future defendants, and the state hasn't proved Gutierrez's actions were willful, deliberate or premeditated.
"It would have been different if they uncovered some kind of motive or some evidence of intent, but the single inference they’re relying on is, judge, allow this to proceed to jury trial on first-degree murder because he was driving fast, he didn’t brake, and he crashed into some cars," Moskal said.
Watch what happened in court:
Prosecutors argued that "there can be no other reasonable inference from his conduct than he intended to drive directly into those vehicles."
"He drove in a straight line directly at a group of vehicles stopped at a red light, and that takes far more willfulness, deliberation, and intent than merely pulling the trigger of a gun, which is an obvious example of first-degree murder," the prosecution said.
Leavitt rejected Gutierrez's challenge, allowing the charges to stand.
Gutierrez has pleaded not guilty. He is expected back on court on March 4 at 8:30 a.m.
-
LVMPD: Man fatally shot after attempting to stop flower robbery
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) is currently investigating a homicide near Jones Boulevard and Upland Boulevard.
LVMPD lieutenant faces DUI, vehicle registration charges, documents show
Joseph E. Winn is accused of driving in Goodsprings while intoxicated and without valid registration on July 1, 2026, according to documents we've recently obtained.
Shooting near Craig, Decatur sends one person to hospital as LVMPD investigates
It happened in the 4500 block of Blue Royal Drive, near the intersection of Craig and Decatur, according to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.
'He shot him': 911 audio captures east Las Vegas Walmart shooting in real time
911 calls obtained by Channel 13 show how quickly an argument turned deadly at an east Las Vegas Walmart last week.
