LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — The repeat DUI driver who hit and killed two Nevada State Police troopers investigating a second DUI driver repeatedly bought bottles of alcohol and different drinks within the hours earlier than the crash — no investigation into these gross sales nor a change in regulation has occurred within the 15 months since.
Jemarcus Williams, 47, drove impaired on Nov. 30, 2023, colliding with Sgt. Michael Abbate and Trooper Alberto Felix on an Interstate 15 offramp close to Downtown Las Vegas. The 2 policemen had been standing on the facet of the street investigating the second DUI driver when Williams hit them.
“Do you know where my partners went?” the primary trooper to answer the crash scene asks the DUI driver the 2 policemen had been investigating within the aftermath, in keeping with video the 8 Information Now Investigators obtained.
Felix first responded to the report of a driver parked on the offramp close to D Avenue.
Jemarcus Williams killed Nevada State Police Sgt. Michael Abbate and Trooper Alberto Felix on Nov. 30, 2023. (KLAS)
“Front end of the Jeep is on the right concrete barrier,” Felix mentioned to a dispatcher. “The driver inside is asleep.”
Minutes later, Abbate arrives in his cruiser to help. Abbate blocks within the sleeping driver’s automotive and exits his automobile as Felix prepares to awaken the person on the Jeep’s driver’s facet window.
Then, the unimaginable.
Inside a number of minutes, the third trooper arrives.
Physique digicam video the 8 Information Now Investigators obtained exhibits Sgt. Michael Abbate pulling his cruiser in entrance of a Jeep with an impaired driver sleeping inside. The arms on the precise are Trooper Alberto Felix exhibiting Abbate how shut to come back earlier than boxing the motive force in. (KLAS)
“I don’t see 304 or 502,” the trooper mentioned, noting the 2 policemen’s name indicators. By then, Williams had plowed into the boys, killing them.
The third policeman then begins speaking with the second impaired driver — the one sleeping within the Jeep. Police mentioned they discovered an open 24-ounce can of beer within the automotive’s heart console in addition to a second can sitting on a floorboard.
“I don’t want you to get hit by car, that’s all,” the trooper mentioned earlier than seeing one of many policemen on the street under the overpass. “Holy [expletive] — 511, I think 304’s been hit, he’s on D Street, he’s on the floor on D Street.”
Abbate left behind a spouse, Vanessa; and then-3-year-old son, Vince. Felix left behind a spouse and three youngsters.
Jemarcus Williams, 47, drove impaired on Nov. 30, 2023, colliding with Sgt. Michael Abbate and Trooper Alberto Felix on an Interstate 15 offramp close to Downtown Las Vegas. (LVMPD)
“I don’t personally believe anybody has woken up to this yet,” Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill mentioned. McMahill leads the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Division, which dealt with the investigation into the troopers’ deaths and Williams’ arrest.
After the crash, police searched the encircling neighborhood for a suspect automobile, discovering it at an condominium complicated on Monroe Avenue close to MLK Boulevard and Owens Avenue. The automotive was severely broken and inside, police discovered one of many trooper’s badges.
McMahill believes drivers like Williams drink previous the purpose of intoxication realizing the preliminary penalties in Nevada usually are not powerful sufficient and anticipating to make it dwelling with none penalties.
“I think until we actually change the way it is that we hold people accountable in the court systems, we’re never going to change the behavior of drivers, it’s just not going to happen,” McMahill mentioned.
Images the 8 Information Now Investigators obtained present Jemarcus Williams repeatedly shopping for bottles of vodka within the hours earlier than the double-fatal crash. (KLAS)
An individual’s first DUI in Nevada is a misdemeanor. The crime turns into a felony after an individual’s third DUI inside seven years. More durable penalties, together with potential jail time, don’t start until an individual joins that three-plus membership.
Metro police arrested Williams in 2007 for DUI, information mentioned. He pleaded no contest, and a municipal court docket decide ordered him to finish DUI lessons. Williams’ court docket report doesn’t present he ever accomplished them.
Williams’ first DUI had no impression on his 2023 case as a result of it fell outdoors of that seven-year window. Within the eyes of state regulation, and when it comes to penalties, his double-fatal DUI was his first.
“How many people and how many troopers need to die before someone actually makes a change?” 8 Information Now Investigator David Charns requested Dan Gordon, the president of the Nevada Police Union. The union represents about 1,200 regulation enforcement workers, together with troopers, throughout Nevada.
Paperwork the 8 Information Now Investigators obtained present photographs of Jemarcus Williams consuming closely on the Palms earlier than the crash. (KLAS)
“That’s the $1,000,000 question,” Gordon mentioned. “We can go out and do our job the best that we can and we can do the right thing and we can keep the motoring public safe but the support system behind us just is not there. People are like, ‘This state does not take DUI seriously unless somebody is hurt or worse.’”
By November 2023, Nevada discovered the worst. However for years, lots of of Nevada households have felt that very same ache, realizing how intoxicated and impaired driving has torn them aside.
“It’s getting ridiculous. It’s an upward trend and it really shouldn’t be,” Gordon mentioned.
Paperwork the 8 Information Now Investigators obtained as a part of a public information request paint an image of simply how drunk Williams was. His first blood draw, which police didn’t take till eight hours after the crash, revealed a blood-alcohol stage of 0.19 – greater than double the authorized restrict.
Paperwork reveal a Palms safety supervisor ordered his employees to verify Williams left the property safely, even telling Williams they might name the police ought to he attempt to drive. (KLAS)
The crash occurred at 3:29 a.m. Williams began consuming round 5 p.m. the evening earlier than, paperwork mentioned. At 5:01 p.m., an worker on the Westgate served him a comped shot of nicely liquor.
By 7:13 p.m., video surveillance confirmed he and a number of other different individuals had consumed a 375-milliliter bottle of Tito’s vodka. For the following few hours, Williams and a bunch of individuals hang around on the Palms, although police mentioned video doesn’t present him consuming.
At 10:17 p.m., Williams bought a second bottle of Tito’s vodka from a close-by liquor retailer. He then returned to the Palms the place police mentioned he and one other particular person “took turns drinking from the bottle.”
At 10:54 p.m., Williams returned to the liquor retailer and tried to purchase what could be his third bottle of the evening, however he ended up empty-handed as a result of the cashier was taking money solely.
Receipts the 8 Information Now obtained reveal Jemarcus Williams ordered 4 drinks on the Palms: at 12:37 a.m., 12:56 a.m., 1:31 a.m. and 1:46 a.m. Every time, Williams ordered a Tito’s vodka. One other patron paid for one drink, police mentioned. (KLAS)
At midnight, Williams returned to the Palms. Williams’ buddy requested Williams to drive him dwelling, however Williams refused and paid for his buddy to take an Uber, paperwork mentioned.
Over the following 90 minutes, Williams ordered 4 drinks on the Palms: at 12:37 a.m., 12:56 a.m., 1:31 a.m. and 1:46 a.m. Every time, Williams ordered Tito’s vodka. One other patron paid for one drink, police mentioned.
Afterward, detectives, reviewing surveillance video, mentioned he was “walking with an unsteady gait, stumbling and [dropping] his cellphone,” paperwork mentioned. Williams final consumed alcohol on the property at 2:52 a.m. — a few half hour earlier than the crash.
Paperwork reveal a Palms safety supervisor ordered his employees to verify Williams left the property safely, even telling Williams they might name the police ought to he attempt to drive.
A regulation handed in 1995 requires judges to set minimums and maximums when sentencing an individual for a felony crime. (KLAS)
At 3:19 a.m., Williams walked off the property, telling the Palms employees he was strolling dwelling: “Jermarcus passed his vehicle and walked toward Flamingo Road, hiding in the landscape area,” police mentioned.
Three minutes later at 3:22 a.m., Williams returned to his automotive and drove off. As Williams started what would turn out to be a lethal experience, Felix was parking behind the impaired driver on the offramp.
“People don’t feel like there’s going to be consequences for their DUI driving,” McMahill mentioned about Williams’ actions.
Williams ran not less than one purple gentle earlier than pulling onto the freeway, paperwork mentioned. Each of the troopers’ cruisers had their emergency lights activated when Williams collided with them whereas they investigated the second intoxicated driver.
Data present Jemarcus Williams was convicted of DUI in 2007 however the case didn’t have an effect on his 2023 one as a result of it was outdoors the seven-year window. (KLAS)
“That says what about where we are?” Charns requested McMahill.
“I think that sums it all up,” McMahill mentioned.
Within the aftermath, the third trooper couldn’t discover Abbate or Felix as a result of the impression threw one over a 22-foot-high overpass, paperwork mentioned. One other was pushed down the off-ramp. Felix’s physique digicam recorded witnesses attempting to get him assist.
Metro police discovered Williams at his condominium a number of hours later. He informed officers, “I’m drunk” and “take me to jail,” paperwork mentioned.
A municipal court docket decide sentenced Guillermo Pacheco, the motive force asleep on the offramp, to 10 days in jail. Pacheco, who informed police he was coming dwelling from a celebration at Planet Hollywood, confronted a misdemeanor DUI cost. (KLAS)
Final June, Clark County District Court docket Decide Susan Johnson sentenced Williams to 16-40 years in jail, the utmost penalty. Final spring, Williams took a plea deal. If Williams’ driving privileges are ever reinstated, he will probably be required to have a breathalyzer put in for not less than a 12 months, Johnson ordered.
A bipartisan 1995 Nevada regulation requires judges to offer a sentencing vary for many felonies with the minimal sentence — the time an individual is eligible for parole — equal to 40% of the utmost. The 8 Information Now Investigators discovered Nevada’s DUI with loss of life regulation is among the many nation’s hardest, however leaders like McMahill and Gordon consider climbing up the ladder or DUI arrests can typically be a slap on the wrist.
A municipal court docket decide sentenced Guillermo Pacheco, the motive force asleep on the offramp, to 10 days in jail. Pacheco, who informed police he was coming dwelling from a celebration at Planet Hollywood, confronted a misdemeanor DUI cost.
As a part of the settlement, a decide ordered Pacheco to pay a $910 tremendous, full DUI college, and serve the ten days “during the weekends,” the settlement mentioned.
Dashcam video the 8 Information Now Investigators obtained present the Jeep parked on the off ramp, resulting in the troopers’ response. (KLAS)
As well as, on the time of sentencing, the decide ordered Pacheco to finish an alcohol analysis, put on an alcohol monitor for 90 days, and abstain from alcohol and medicines, paperwork mentioned. If Pacheco failed to remain out of hassle for 18 months, the decide would ship him to jail for six months.
Data present a decide ordered Pacheco to jail for 2 days in February 2025 for contempt, however the precise motive why remained unclear.
“I think until we actually change the way it is that we hold people accountable in the court systems, we’re never going to change the behavior of drivers,” McMahill mentioned. “It’s just not going to happen.”
Metro didn’t examine the Palms for any violations in regards to the incident, a spokesperson mentioned.
Williams’ first blood draw, which police didn’t take till eight hours after the crash, revealed a blood-alcohol stage of 0.19 – greater than double the authorized restrict. (KLAS)
“All of us at Palms Casino Resort extend our deepest sympathies to the officers and their families,” a spokesperson mentioned after Williams’ arrest.
Clark County’s enterprise licensing division additionally didn’t launch any investigation, a spokesperson mentioned.
Nevada regulation removes any civil legal responsibility for an individual or enterprise that overserves an individual like Williams.
Williams was one 12 months into his minimal 16-year sentence for killing the 2 policemen. Data present he was serving the sentence at a minimum-security camp the place offenders be taught to turn out to be first responders themselves — firefighters.
Nevada lawmakers have proposed modifications to the state’s move-over regulation and amending the seven-year “look back” window to 10 years.
Nevada leaders renamed a part of Interstate 15 in honor of Abbate and Felix. The Injured Police Officer’s Fund continues to assist their households. Donations might be made at ipof.vegas/nevada-state-police-donation.
8 Information Now Investigator David Charns might be reached at [email protected].
Author : LasVegasNews
Publish date : 2025-02-28 02:45:22
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