Former Las Vegas Security Guard Sentenced 5-14 Years for Pandemic-Era Shooting

Kegia Mitchell, a former security guard in Las Vegas, was sentenced to five and a half to 14 years in prison for the fatal shooting of 56-year-old Thomas Martin outside a 7-Eleven during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mitchell entered an Alford plea to voluntary manslaughter with a deadly weapon and assault charges, acknowledging sufficient evidence for conviction without admitting guilt. The shooting stemmed from a confrontation over COVID-19 store entry protocols, where Martin cut the line, leading to a physical altercation and Mitchell firing a single shot after pulling a gun on him. Prosecutors argued Mitchell abused her authority by escalating the situation and using deadly force, while her defense cited fear and inadequate firearms training under pandemic pressure. Court video evidence showed the struggle and Mitchell's aggressive behavior in a prior unrelated incident, which was noted during sentencing. Judge Tierra Jones emphasized the complexity of the case, highlighting the shooting occurred outside the store and the challenges of enforcing COVID-19 restrictions.