On December 16, 2015, a tragic incident occurred at a doctor's office located in the 2800 block of West Charleston Boulevard in Las Vegas, Nevada. Veronica N. Clay, a 45-year-old woman, was fatally shot during an attempted robbery at the office. The Clark County coroner's office later ruled her death a homicide.
The events unfolded around 7:15 p.m. when a man and a woman, both with their faces covered, entered the doctor's office.
The male suspect was armed with a handgun and began to pistol-whip the doctor, while the female suspect assisted in ransacking the office. The suspects held a doctor, a second employee, and a patient at gunpoint, demanding money and drugs. During the ordeal, the male suspect continued to assault the doctor, causing non-life-threatening injuries.
In an attempt to intervene, the medical assistant managed to exit the office, retrieve a handgun from his vehicle, and return to confront the suspects. As the suspects were descending the stairs, the medical assistant fired several rounds, hitting the female suspect, Veronica Clay. She fell to the ground, and the male suspect fled the scene on foot. Clay was transported to the University Medical Center Trauma Center, where she was later pronounced deceased due to a gunshot wound to the chest.
Initially, the male suspect remained unidentified and was described as a black male, approximately 5'8' tall with a thin build, last seen wearing all dark clothing and a ski mask. Police were on the lookout for him, particularly at local hospitals, as he was believed to be injured and possibly seeking medical attention.
However, on December 31, 2015, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department announced the arrest of Mario Chism, 43, who was identified as the male suspect involved in the thwarted robbery. Chism was apprehended at a North Las Vegas residence without incident and was found to be suffering from a gunshot wound to his foot, which police believed was inflicted by the medical assistant during the confrontation. Chism was booked into the Clark County Detention Center and faced charges of burglary, robbery, battery, and kidnapping.
Chism and Veronica Clay had forced their way into the dental office, holding the occupants at gunpoint and engaging in the violent altercation that ultimately led to Clay's death. The arrest of Chism brought closure to the investigation, although the incident highlighted the tragic consequences of violent crime and the bravery of the medical assistant who intervened to protect others.
