The woman who killed one man and injured another outside of the Grand Sierra Resort, has been given the maximum sentence of life in prison. Carleja Royal will be eligible for parole after 38 years.
Royal murdered Elaundra Thomas and shot Jeremiah Sesepasara on the evening of August 27, 2022, after waiting in her car for more than an hour for them to leave the GSR pool. Earlier, she had followed the victim group into the club area, remained only six minutes, then returned to her car where her girlfriend was waiting. She repositioned the car closer to the breezeway so she could watch for the men to come out.
A little over an hour later, when the victims and their group walked to their cars, Royal drove past them and opened fire, shooting ten times and striking both Thomas and Sesepasara. The entire sequence was captured on casino surveillance footage. Officers with the Regional Gang Unit later found and arrested Royal, who had a concealed firearm in her waistband and two outstanding felony warrants out of California.
During sentencing, Chief Deputy District Attorney Nicole Hicks emphasized that the family’s grief is immeasurable and that they continue to bear the unbearable weight of a young life stolen at just 19 years old. She told the Court that although nothing can restore what was taken, accountability is the only justice this family has left, and urged the judge to impose the maximum sentence.
The Honorable Lynne Jones presided and imposed a life sentence with the possibility of parole after 38 years for the first-degree murder and attempted-murder charges.
