LAS VEGAS (TCD) — A woman who previously served prison time for arson and was out on parole allegedly killed a man in a random shooting while he was working this week.
On March 26, shortly after 4 p.m., officers with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department were called to an apartment complex in the 3600 block of South Fort Apache Road in reference to a possible shooting. Police found a male, identified by KLAS-TV as 41-year-old Raul Cardoza, near a van with an apparent gunshot wound. He was transported to a hospital and later pronounced dead.
Cardoza was sitting in a van when the suspect, 27-year-old Kayla Alery, allegedly went up to the vehicle and fired a shot, killing the man. Alery reportedly fled the scene on foot following the fatal incident.
According to KLAS, before the shooting, Alery was checking car doors inside the apartment complex to see if any were unlocked. Multiple people reportedly informed the apartment leasing manager, and maintenance workers were asked to help find the suspect and lead them off the property.
As maintenance workers searched for Alery, two workers were inside a carpet cleaning company van outside the apartment complex, KLAS reports. That’s when Alery allegedly went up to the vehicle and pulled out her gun.
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Lt. Jason Johannson told KLAS, “This appears to be a random shooting of a completely innocent hardworking human being who was here at work and was shot and killed while doing their job.”
Johannson added, “They were here just doing their job doing an estimate to clean someone’s carpet sitting in their van.”
Police arrested Alery, and she was booked into the Clark County Detention Center on multiple charges, including open murder with a deadly weapon, assault with a deadly weapon, and possession of a gun by a prohibited person. Alery was scheduled to appear in court on Thursday, March 28.
According to a criminal complaint obtained by KVVU-TV, Alery was previously charged with third-degree arson, fourth-degree arson, ownership or possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and obstructing a public officer. In September 2022, she allegedly tried to set a vehicle on fire at an apartment building. She pleaded guilty to third- and fourth-degree arson and was sentenced to between 14 and 36 months on each charge, KVVU reports. However, she was reportedly paroled in December 2023.
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