Raul Ernesto Cardoza Lopez, a 41-year-old Hispanic male, was shot and killed in what appears to have been a random act of violence on March 26, 2024, in Las Vegas, Nevada. On that Tuesday, Cardoza Lopez, a dedicated carpet cleaner, was working with his brother at the Venicia Apartments located in the 3600 block of South Fort Apache Road. He was seated in the driver's seat of his work van when a single, fatal gunshot was fired into the vehicle.
The incident occurred in broad daylight, shattering the midday peace of the apartment complex.
The investigation into the senseless killing led Metro Police to 27-year-old Kayla Alery. According to police reports, Alery, who did not reside at the apartment complex, had been seen attempting to open car doors shortly before the shooting. Apartment complex staff were in the process of escorting her off the property when she walked past the van where Cardoza Lopez and his brother were and fired the shot. There is no indication that Alery and Cardoza Lopez had any prior interaction. He was rushed to University Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Kayla Alery was arrested near the scene and was found to be in possession of a gun. She is facing multiple charges, including open murder, possession of a gun by a felon, shooting into an occupied structure, and concealing a weapon without a permit. During interviews with detectives, Alery reportedly stated that she suffers from schizophrenia, hears voices, and sometimes "blacks out for days." She claimed to have no memory of the shooting or of obtaining the firearm, which she believed she must have stolen. It was also revealed that Alery was on parole for a prior arson conviction at the time of the incident. She is being held without bail. Raul Cardoza Lopez, a native of El Salvador, was remembered as a beloved and hardworking man, survived by two daughters.
