Man killed after stranger allegedly steals car with sleeping passenger in Las Vegas parking lot

A man who was sleeping inside a parked vehicle outside a Walmart Supercenter was killed after a stranger allegedly stole the car and crashed it into a boulder, according to police in Las Vegas.

The incident occurred on the morning of April 11, when officers with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department responded to reports of a serious traffic collision near the store. 

Authorities said a man in his 30s had been resting in the front passenger seat of a running, unlocked Hyundai Sonata while a family member shopped inside.

According to investigators, a man in his 50s allegedly entered the vehicle without permission and drove away at high speed with the sleeping passenger still inside.

Police said the suspect then struck a minivan carrying two occupants, causing it to spin out before continuing on and crashing into a pole and a large boulder. 

The passenger inside the stolen vehicle was pronounced dead as a result of the crash.

Lieutenant Monique Rodriguez of LVMPD said the incident appears to have been a “crime of opportunity,” noting that the suspect did not appear to know the victim.

“The man in the passenger seat woke up to another man essentially kidnapping him,” Rodriguez said during a press briefing.

The driver of the minivan suffered minor injuries, while the passenger was unharmed. Both were taken to hospital for evaluation.

Authorities confirmed that the suspect, described as a man in his 50s with an extensive criminal history, is in custody and is expected to face murder-related charges.

Police said they are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.