LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – A woman charged with the murder of a Las Vegas apartment carpet cleaner has been deemed competent to proceed to trial.
Kayla Alery, 27, was arrested by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department on March 27 after witnesses reported seeing her fire a shot into the window of a work van that was parked at an apartment complex near Spring Mountain and Fort Apache.
Officers responded to the scene and found Raul Cardoza, 41, suffering from a gunshot wound. He was taken to a nearby hospital and died from his injuries.
LVMPD Lt. Jason Johannson said that the victim was present because of his job as a carpet cleaner and he intended to provide an estimate to a potential customer. Police have “no indication at all” that the victim had any prior interaction with the suspect.
Alery fled the area on foot and was arrested minutes later in possession of a gun with ammunition matching a cartridge casing found at the scene. While she was waiting to be processed at Clark County Detention Center following her arrest, she reportedly punched an inmate there.
In a May 1 hearing in Clark County District Court, Alery was deemed competent to stand trial. Her case was transferred back to Justice Court for further proceedings, where she is facing four felony charges, including open murder.
Her next court appearance is scheduled for May 14.
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