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Las Vegas Strip Killer Identified

The person responsible for deliberately driving onto a packed sidewalk along the famed Las Vegas Strip while injuring dozens and killing 1 has been identified.

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According to a local parking attendant, 24-year-old Lakeisha Holloway was “stoic” after the tragedy near the Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino, admitting to what she had done and asking him to call 911. Holloway has been charged with murder with a deadly weapon, with additional charges likely to follow. District Attorney Steven Wolfson added that it was too early to determine whether the death penalty could or would be sought.

During a Monday press conference, Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo reiterated that there was no indication the case involved terrorism, but admitted that video footage of the melee “obviously show intention.” Lombardo listed the number of injured at 35, while 3 of those people remain in critical condition. The lone person killed was identified as Jessica Valenzuela, 32, of Buckeye, Ariz.

The violent tragedy unfolded only steps away from the Planet Hollywood resort where the 2015 Miss Universe pageant was being held. Eyewitness Antonio Nassar said he had just walked out of Planet Hollywood when he saw the car roar onto the sidewalk, slamming into stunned pedestrians and briefly dragging a young boy. The sound of the car hitting people was like “watermelons falling on the sidewalk,” Nassar said.

“It was chaotic,” Nassar added. “I was running down the street saying, ‘Move! Move! Get out of the way!'”

Tourist Justin Cochrane had just sat down for dinner with 2 other people when the car began careening onto the sidewalk.

“It was mayhem and it was very intentional,” Cochran said. “People were flying. It was a sound I will never forget. It (the car) wasn’t hitting cars, it was hitting people.”

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Video from bystanders and businesses showed the 1996 Oldsmobile roaring onto the sidewalk and literally mowing down panicked pedestrians. Some fought back and even jumped onto the car in a failed effort to make Holloway stop.  She eventually drove around the corner and parked at a hotel before speaking with the valet. Fortunately, her 3-year-old child, who was in the back seat, was in good condition and has since been taken under the care of child services.

Sheriff Lombardo said Monday they were still trying to determine her motive for the mayhem. Holloway did not appear to be drunk when she spoke with officers, but according to a drug expert did appear to be under the influence of a stimulant. Based on available information, Holloway’s actions may have stemmed from a recent falling out with the child’s father, or the fact she had been living out of her car after arriving from Oregon about a week ago.

Before going on her inexplicable killing spree, Lakeisha Holloway was publicly honored for turning her life around.

“Boy, have I come a long ways,” Holloway said in a 2012 video by the Portland Opportunities Industrialization Center, which helps at-risk youth with education and career training.

“I was a scared little girl who knew that there was more to life outside of crime, drug addiction, lower income, alcoholism, being under educated — all of which I grew up being familiar with.”

Thanks to the non-profit, she went from homelessness to a job with the federal government and “living the grand life.” Now she faces murder charges, leaving the scene of an accident, and child abuse or neglect.

Holloway has since been placed under an around-the-clock suicide watch at the Clark County jail.

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Las Vegas Strip killer has been identified.