A man in his 30s was killed after a suspect suddenly jumped into a running car outside a Walmart in Las Vegas, drove off, and crashed within seconds.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department stated that the victim was sleeping in the passenger seat while the car was unlocked and the engine was running. The suspect, 55-year-old Harold Allen, jumped into the car and accelerated away from the scene.
The vehicle immediately collided with a minivan in the parking lot, spun, and then struck a pole and a boulder. The impact caused the victim to wake up during the sudden abduction.
The victim was transported to a hospital but did not survive. His official identity and cause of death are pending announcement by the Clark County Coroner's Office.
The suspect sustained only minor injuries. The driver of the minivan also suffered minor injuries, while their passenger was unharmed.
Police identified this as a "crime of opportunity," occurring because the vehicle was unlocked and running—a stark warning regarding auto theft, which continues to be a complex issue.
The suspect is being held at the Clark County Detention Center on several serious charges, including murder, first-degree kidnapping, and grand larceny of a vehicle.
Records show the suspect has a lengthy criminal history.
The investigation is ongoing.
