WCDA Secures Verdict in Murder Trial

Defendant Juan Carlos Hernandez Found Guilty of Murder for Fatal Zombie Crawl Shooting in October 2019

The Washoe County District Attorney’s Office has announced that Juan Carlos Hernandez, age 27, from Oregon, was found guilty of 2^nd Degree Murder with the Use of a Deadly Weapon after a three-week murder trial that concluded last Friday. Hernandez was accused of having fatally shot 22-year-old Luis Torres-Mederos in the head while the two were attending the annual downtown Reno Zombie Crawl. Hernandez and the victim met that evening and after the shooting the defendant identified himself to responding Reno Police Department Patrol Officers as “Arthur Fleck”, the name of the fictional character in the 2019 film ”Joker.” Hernandez had a blood alcohol level of .22 at the time of his arrest.  

During the trial, Deputy District Attorney Michael Bolenbaker argued for 1^st Degree Murder, presenting evidence that Hernandez hid the firearm behind his back before shooting Torres-Mederos twice in the head. The jury ultimately convicted Hernandez of 2^nd Degree Murder with Use of a Deadly Weapon and sentencing is set for May 23, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. in Department 4 of Washoe County District Court before the Honorable Judge Connie Steinheimer. Hernandez faces the possibility of up to life in prison with the possibility of parole after ten years for the 2^nd Degree Murder conviction and an additional 1 to 20 consecutive years for the Deadly Weapon enhancement.