On a Sunday evening in Reno, Nevada, the life of Jalawrence Holden, a 29-year-old Black / African American male, was tragically cut short. On October 2, 2022, while spending time with friends near City Hall, an encounter with a stranger would prove fatal. Holden, who had moved to the area for a job with the hope of eventually bringing his family out west, was remembered as a highly intelligent and talkative person who easily connected with others.
The chain of events that led to Holden's
death began with a brief, non-threatening exchange of words with Nicholas "Nicki" Nevarez. Following this interaction, Nevarez, also 29, walked back to her room at the Virginian, a downtown hotel, and retrieved an AR-15-style pistol. She concealed the weapon in a crossbody bag and returned to the area where Holden and his friends were gathered. From a distance of about 15 feet, she drew the firearm and shot Holden three times. In a final act of self-preservation, Holden had attempted to grab the barrel of the gun, but was unsuccessful.
Nevarez was arrested and charged with second-degree murder, use of a deadly weapon, and carrying a concealed weapon. During the investigation, she claimed self-defense, an assertion prosecutors said was not supported by evidence. It was also revealed that she had used racially charged language when referring to Holden and his friends. In October 2024, a jury convicted Nevarez on all charges. She was sentenced to 10 years to life for the murder, with an additional consecutive sentence of eight to 20 years for the use of a deadly weapon. She also received a concurrent sentence of 24 to 60 months for carrying a concealed weapon and will serve a minimum of 18 years in prison.
