Jury convicts man of first degree murder

Amadeo Sanchez, Jr. sentenced to life in prison.

Reno, Nevada. May 21, 2015. After six days of testimony and evidence presented by the Washoe County District Attorney’s Office, a jury of 12 deliberated for an hour and a half before convicting Amadeo Sanchez Jr. (12/11/87) of first degree murder with the use of a deadly weapon. In November, December of 2012 and January of 2013, Sanchez, a former resident of Los Angeles, traveled to Reno every weekend to supply large amounts of methamphetamine to local drug users and dealers, claiming he could get a higher price for the drugs in this community. During his last trip to Reno, he brought his wife and two children, five and and on, whom he took on several drug deals.

The victim Daniel Lee Carter, known to his friends as “Danny Boy,” owed the defendant a large sum of money and on the evening of January 15, 2013, Sanchez went to the residence where Carter had been staying to collect on that debt. He took his wife and kids along with him. Sanchez initially attempted to enter the house via the front door, then wiped his prints off the knob and entered through the garage door instead.  He possessed a .22 caliber Sig Sauer gun. 

Once inside the house, Sanchez confronted Carter.  He demanded money from the victim and then shot him five times, including in the leg, abdomen, arm, shoulder and head.  The medical examiner testified that the majority of the gunshots had a downward trajectory which was consistent with testimony that the victim was shot while on his knees.  An eyewitness, who was in the next room, testified that she heard the first shot then she heard the victim say “please don’t, please don’t...I’ll get you your money, please just give me a chance” before she heard four additional gunshots. She came out to find the shooter had fled and her friend was dying on the floor. His last words to her were “tell my kids I love them”.  He died 19 minutes after arriving at the hospital.

After shooting the victim, Sanchez got into the car with blood on his clothes. He told his wife “I shot him. I think I killed him. He was under the pool table and I dragged him out by his legs and shot him.” Sanchez changed his appearance, cleaned the gun and burned his clothes and shoes. He then fled to Mexico where he was arrested several months later on unrelated charges.  He was later extradited to Washoe County.  

On Tuesday, after hearing arguments from both counsel, the jury unanimously sentenced Sanchez to life with a possibility of parole after serving 20 years. He will be sentenced to a consecutive deadly weapon enhancement of up to 20 years on July 15, 2015, in Department 9 by the Honorable Judge Freeman who presided over the trial.

Any questions should be addressed to Deputy District Attorney, Erica L. Jones, at the District Attorney’s Office at 328-3239.

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