A 56-year-old woman tragically died after a prankster pushed her off her bicycle.
Michelle ‘Shelli’ Weissman was riding her bicycle in Las Vegas when 20-year-old Giovanni Medina Barajas leaned out of the van’s window and pushed her, causing the woman to fall and hit her head.
Barajas then fell out of the window and hit his head on a lamp post.
22-year-old Rodrigo Cruz, the driver of the van, has been arrested and charged with open murder, a parole violation, and duty to stop at the scene of an accident.
According to investigators, Cruz was driving along Hollywood Boulevard on Sunday morning when his passenger, Barajas, leaned out of the window and pushed the cyclist.
Weissman fell from her bike because of the impact and hit her head. She was pronounced dead at the scene, with her death ruled as a homicide.
The 20-year-old then fell out of the window and died of severe injuries. His death was ruled an accident. Cruz fled the scene but police managed to identify and track him down.
When questioned by cops, Cruz allegedly gave contradictory explanations but he eventually said to investigators that he was driving the burgundy Toyota Sienna van going 50-60mph when Barajas pushed the woman off her bike.
He denied driving close to the sidewalk and said that he swerved in an attempt to get his passenger back inside. He then drove home after the incident as he was scared since he was out on parole.
The police report stated: “Gio was always doing stupid stuff but Rodrigo stated he wasn’t intentionally driving in a manner to allow Gio to make contact with any pedestrians or the bicyclist.”
The deaths were described by Metropolitan Police Department homicide Lt. Ray Spencer as ‘senseless.’
A spokesperson for Boyd Gaming where Weissman worked said: “We are deeply saddened by the tragic and senseless loss of our team member, Shelli.
“She was well-known and well-liked by the entire Cannery team, and we will miss her. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends during this very difficult time.”
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