Guard says he saw man shoot at protest, wound Vegas officer

LAS VEGAS (AP) - A motel security guard told a judge Thursday he saw a man fire a handgun toward police and demonstrators on the Las Vegas Strip, then heard a wounded officer groan and people begin screaming.

Juan Pablo Hernandez-Rodriguez testified he was steps away from Edgar Samaniego, the 20-year-old accused of critically wounding Officer Shay Mikalonis during a protest late June 1 near the Circus Circus casino.

The demonstration was one of hundreds nationally calling for racial justice following the May 25 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

Samaniego watched from the defendant’s table as Hernandez-Rodriguez mimicked the shooter’s actions, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. He was arrested hours after the shooting and faces attempted murder, battery and firearms charges. He remains jailed on $1 million bail.

Thursday was the first day of testimony in a preliminary hearing that could last several days. Justice of the Peace Melanie Andress-Tobiasson will determine if there is enough evidence for Samaniego to stand trial in state court.

Police allege Samaniego deliberately shot Mikalonis. Prosecutor Giancarlo Pesci has said evidence shows that Samaniego fired three shots that night.

Hernandez-Rodriguez turned over to investigators motel security camera video that authorities said identified Samaniego and showed him firing from the Travelodge parking lot.

Standing from his seat in the courtroom, Hernandez-Rodriguez faced the judge and pretended to reach for a handgun in his right pocket. He said the shooter then crossed his arms and fired once toward protesters and officers about 50 feet (15 meters) away.

Testifying with the aid of a Spanish interpreter, Hernandez-Rodriguez said he had just clocked in for his 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. shift when the shooting occurred.

Authorities have said Samaniego checked into a Travelodge room earlier in the day and did not take part in the protests before the shooting.

Mikalonis, 29, was wounded in the head. His family said he was paralyzed from the neck down. He has been transferred to an out-of-state spinal injury rehabilitation center.