Man Sentenced to 56 Years for Killing 3 in Las Vegas

Alonzo James Brown pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree murder in a spree of shootings last year.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 1:03am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a single bullet casing against a pitch-black background, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash, conceptually representing the evidence of a violent crime.A single bullet casing, a stark reminder of the violence that shook Las Vegas in a string of deadly shootings.Las Vegas Today

Alonzo James Brown, 22, was sentenced to 56 years to life in prison for killing three men in separate shootings in Las Vegas between January and June 2022. Brown pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Tevin Alhashemi, Paul Viana, and Josue Chaparro-Montalo.

Why it matters

The string of killings over several months in Las Vegas raised concerns about public safety and the need for better mental health resources, as Brown's defense cited his history of delusions and paranoia at the time of the crimes.

The details

Prosecutors said Brown shot Alhashemi 20 times while he sat in his car in January 2022, then fatally shot Viana while stalking people in a neighborhood in May 2022, and killed Chaparro-Montalo on a street in June 2022. Police arrested Brown four days after the third killing, and surveillance footage and weapons found on him linked him to the crimes.

  • On January 18, 2022, Brown shot Tevin Alhashemi 20 times while he sat in his car.
  • On May 4, 2022, Brown fatally shot Paul Viana while he was walking around a neighborhood.
  • On June 23, 2022, Brown killed Josue Chaparro-Montalo on an east Las Vegas street.
  • Brown was arrested four days after the Chaparro-Montalo killing.

The players

Alonzo James Brown

A 22-year-old man who pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree murder for killing three men in Las Vegas between January and June 2022.

Tevin Alhashemi

A 26-year-old man who was shot 20 times by Brown while sitting in his car in January 2022.

Paul Viana

A 62-year-old man who was fatally shot by Brown while walking around a neighborhood in May 2022.

Josue Chaparro-Montalo

A 36-year-old man who was killed by Brown on an east Las Vegas street in June 2022.

Marc DiGiacomo

The Chief Deputy District Attorney who presented details about the killings in grand jury transcripts.

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What they’re saying

“The Metropolitan Police Department had received a tip regarding the killing of Alhashemi and found that Brown had lived in the area, according to prosecutors.”

— Prosecutors

“Video surveillance footage also showed Brown carrying out the slayings, DiGiacomo said.”

— Marc DiGiacomo, Chief Deputy District Attorney

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether to allow Brown to be released on bail while he awaits sentencing.

The takeaway

This case highlights the need for better mental health resources and support systems to prevent tragedies like this, as Brown's defense cited his history of delusions and paranoia at the time of the crimes.