In the early morning hours of November 9, 2023, the life of Shannon K. Awa, a 46-year-old Black/African American male, was tragically cut short in his downtown Las Vegas apartment. The sound of gunfire shattered the morning quiet near the Las Vegas Academy of the Arts, causing concern as students were arriving for classes. Responding officers discovered Awa inside his residence, the victim of multiple gunshot wounds.
Witnesses at the scene described a man with dreadlocks and facial
tattoos firing shots in the area. This description led officers to quickly detain 44-year-old Major Sanford, who matched the physical description provided. Upon his arrest, Sanford made a startling admission, stating, "I killed that alien." He later clarified to investigators that he referred to Awa as an "alien" because, although Awa wanted to be like a brother to him, he was not his "real brother."
The motive for the shooting, according to Sanford, stemmed from an argument over Awa allegedly attempting to steal his marijuana and gun. Sanford, an ex-convict with prior convictions for robbery and assault with a deadly weapon, faced a litany of charges for his actions. These included open murder with the use of a deadly weapon, discharging a gun into an occupied structure, possession of a gun by a prohibited person, and carrying a concealed weapon without a permit.
In July 2024, Major Sanford pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, robbery with a deadly weapon, and assault with a deadly weapon. As a result of his plea, he faces a potential sentence of up to life in prison, with the possibility of parole after serving 20 years. His sentencing was scheduled for September 18, 2024.
