On a December afternoon in 2020, a dispute over money turned fatal for 21-year-old Hispanic male Anthony Rivero in east Las Vegas. The incident, which took place on December 8th in the 100 block of Montello Avenue, began as a confrontation and ended in a burst of gunfire. Rivero was seated in his parked car when another man approached and an argument ensued. As Rivero attempted to drive away, multiple shots were fired, striking him in the back.
Despite his injuries, he managed to drive a short distance before crashing into a yard in the 4900 block of Ronan Drive. He was rushed to University Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries. The Clark County coroner's office later confirmed his death was a homicide caused by a gunshot wound to the back.
The investigation into Rivero's death revealed a plot allegedly orchestrated by his ex-girlfriend, Janet Juarez, with whom he shared a child. The two had been arguing over money that Rivero owed her. Witnesses reported hearing Juarez threaten to involve her brothers if he did not pay. Text messages recovered from Rivero's phone showed that Janet Juarez had been demanding money and had warned him that her brothers were prepared to confront him. In one text, she reportedly mentioned that her brother drove a Denali, and surveillance footage from the scene captured a white GMC Yukon Denali. Just minutes before the shooting, a voicemail was left on Rivero's phone from a man stating he was outside his house and wanted to "handle this".
A series of arrests followed the investigation. Janet Juarez and her brother, Jhonatan Juarez, were the first to be taken into custody in December 2020. Another brother, Juan Juarez, was arrested in January 2021. In May 2021, Yanet Ruiz, who owned the vehicle allegedly used in the crime and had a child with Juan Juarez, was also arrested and charged with murder. The man suspected of being the gunman, Christian Juarez, another brother, was arrested in September 2021. Police stated that a witness came forward and claimed Christian Juarez had confessed to the shooting. Phone records also reportedly linked him and his brother Juan to the scene of the crime. While charges against Jhonatan Juarez were eventually dropped, Janet, Juan, and Christian Juarez later entered Alford pleas. Christian Juarez, identified as the shooter, received a sentence of 10 to 25 years for second-degree murder. Janet Juarez was sentenced to a minimum of eight years for voluntary manslaughter with a deadly weapon enhancement, and Juan Juarez received a similar sentence for voluntary manslaughter and conspiracy to commit murder.
