Zane Floyd

Mass Murderer

Zane Floyd and the 1999 Las Vegas Supermarket Massacre

Background

Zane Michael Floyd was born on September 20, 1975, in Estes Park, Colorado. He later moved with his family to Nevada and attended school in the Las Vegas area. In 1994, Floyd enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, where he attained the rank of lance corporal. He was honorably discharged in July 1998 after approximately four years of service. After leaving the military, Floyd returned to Las Vegas and worked at different times as a security guard and nightclub bouncer. His personal circumstances deteriorated during the period leading up to the murders. He reportedly drank heavily, lost his security job and was forced to leave his apartment. By early June 1999, the 23-year-old was living in a room at his parents' home. Investigators later learned that Floyd had developed violent fantasies and had spoken about wanting to experience killing another person. His actions during the early morning of June 3, 1999, demonstrated that the supermarket attack was not a spontaneous argument or workplace dispute. He armed himself with a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun and deliberately targeted people who had no meaningful connection to him.

Sexual Assault Before the Murders

During the early morning hours of June 3, 1999, Floyd contacted an escort agency and requested that a woman come to the residence where he was staying. A 20-year-old woman arrived at approximately 3:30 a.m. Once she was inside, Floyd produced his shotgun, restrained her and sexually assaulted her. He threatened her life throughout the encounter. He eventually gave the woman a brief opportunity to escape, reportedly telling her that she had 60 seconds to run before he would kill her. She fled the residence and survived. Floyd then took his shotgun and ammunition and began walking through Las Vegas. His destination was an Albertson's supermarket located at 3864 West Sahara Avenue, near South Valley View Boulevard. The business was open around the clock, and several overnight employees were still working inside.

The Albertson's Supermarket Shooting

At approximately 5:15 a.m. on June 3, 1999, Floyd entered the Albertson's supermarket carrying the shotgun. He began moving through the store and firing at employees without warning. The victims were selected according to opportunity rather than because of any personal grievance against them. Floyd first encountered employee Thomas Darnell and shot him in the back. He then continued through the store and shot manager Carlos "Chuck" Leos in the face and neck. Employee Dennis Troy Sargent was shot in the chest. Twenty-one-year-old employee Zachary T. Emenegger saw Floyd pointing the shotgun and attempted to escape. Emenegger ran through the produce area and tried to conceal himself beneath a produce table. Floyd pursued him and fired, striking him in the upper chest and puncturing one of his lungs. Floyd fired at him again after noticing movement. Emenegger remained motionless and pretended to be dead. Floyd believed that he had killed him and continued walking through the supermarket. Despite suffering critical wounds, Emenegger remained conscious and survived the attack. Floyd eventually found 60-year-old clerk Lucille Alice Tarantino near the rear portion of the store. He approached her and fatally shot her at close range. She was the fourth person murdered during the rampage. The shooting lasted approximately seven minutes. Floyd discharged seven shotgun shells, killing four employees and critically wounding a fifth. Surveillance cameras inside the supermarket recorded significant portions of the attack and later provided powerful evidence during his trial. ...

Confirmed Victims: (4)

Thomas Darnell 40 yr old Male

Zane Floyd - Wikipedia