Three Texans who went on a two-state crime spree could face terrorism and hate crime charges that resulted in one person dead and at least three wounded in an early attack in what one attacker called a prelude to an “upcoming war,” the Associated Press reports.
Brothers Shawn McDonnell and Christopher McDonnell and Kayleigh Lewis, Christopher McDonnell’s wife, started their crime spree robbing a convenience store in Las Vegas were they murdered Kevin Mendiola Jr., 22, of North Las Vegas and shot three others.
Christopher McDonnell told investigators that his brother Shawn told him to “shoot the Black guy,” which he did. The trio then sped across Nevada highways into Arizona, during which they fired into passing cars throughout their drive.
Police finally stopped the trio in Arizona, where Shawn McDonnell was shot by police after pointing a handgun at an officer. Police found three handguns, two machete-style knives and a baseball bat in their vehicle.
On Tuesday, Christopher McDonnell, 28, faced a judge on murder, attempted murder, battery and firearm charges. The two others have not yet been arraigned.