Inset: Nevada Sen. Pat Spearman with her son Na’onche Osborne (KSNV/YouTube). Background: The aftermath of a crash allegedly caused by Aerion Warmsley, near Interstate 15 and Spring Mountain Road in Las Vegas (KSNV/YouTube).
A 19-year-old man in Las Vegas is facing charges for a “dangerous” crime spree across multiple jurisdictions last week that included car thefts, high-speed pursuits and the murder of a former Nevada senator’s son — “just hours” after the suspect asked a woman if she “wanted to die,” cops say.
Aerion Warmsley, of North Las Vegas, faces charges of open murder with a deadly weapon and robbery with a deadly weapon for the shooting death of Na’onche Osborne — the 23-year-old son of former Democratic state Sen. Pat Spearman — last Thursday at the Aliante Casino and Hotel. The North Las Vegas Police Department released details about Warmsley’s alleged crime spree during a video briefing on Saturday night that was broadcast by local CBS affiliate KLAS. He is expected to face additional charges.
“This homicide followed an interaction involving the suspect that occurred just one day earlier,” said NLVPD Officer Roberto Vaquera, about the domestic incident and text that kicked off Warmsley’s alleged rampage last Wednesday night.
“(Warmsley) sent the victim a threatening text message, asking her if she wanted to die,” Vaquera explained. “When officers arrived and located Warmsley’s vehicle in the parking lot outside the victim’s apartment building, they attempted to speak to him. However, he fled the scene in a Mercedes sedan with unique markings before officers could make contact with him.”
Warmsley allegedly evaded police for hours and eventually found himself at Aliante, where he shot Osborne on the casino floor at around 4:30 a.m., according to Vaquera. Preliminary information provided to cops suggested that Warmsley and another man, who has not been captured or identified, fled the area in his Mercedes sedan with unique markings and stolen license plates.
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“A short time later, the suspect vehicle was involved in a crash in the area of Spring Mountain Road and Procyon Street in Las Vegas,” Vaquera said. “Two men fled the scene on foot and (Warmsley) approached a nearby woman and stole her gray SUV Mercedes at gunpoint. Over the next several hours, (Warmsley) was involved in a series of dangerous crimes across multiple jurisdictions. These crimes included additional vehicle thefts, high-speed pursuits and reckless driving that endangered many members of the public.”
Spearman, who served multiple terms in the Nevada state legislature, released a statement to KLAS through a spokesperson in response to her son’s death, saying it was an “unimaginable loss” for the family.
“They are heartbroken,” the rep said. “During this difficult time, the senator and their family ask for privacy as they grieve and support one another. They are deeply grateful for the outpouring of love, prayers, and condolences from friends, colleagues, and the community.”
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