Two men sentenced in 2010 gang-related slaying

A Las Vegas judge sentenced two men to 4 to 10 years in prison Monday for their roles in a 2010 gang-related homicide.

Damien Benoit, 27, and Brandon Bailey, 25, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the shooting death of Deshun Burley.

Burley was found dead from multiple gunshots to his chest in a room at the Bargain Motel, 200 S. Eighth St., in April 2010.

Authorities said Bailey had dated Burley’s sister and the two had prior arguments about her.

Witnesses saw the three men arguing before Benoit referenced the Piru Blood street gang before firing six shots through a motel room window.

Benoit and Bailey were members of Piru, a rival of Burley’s gang, the Crips, according to police.

Burley’s mother, Karen Merritt-Greene, appeared in court Monday, wearing a T-shirt with Burley’s picture and the words “RIP Son I miss you &I love you.”

“This has been the hardest thing I’ve ever had to face in my life,” she said. “I just want the pain to stop, and I don’t see that happening no time soon.”

She chastised Benoit for making a “cowardly” decision to pick up a gun the night her son was slain.

“You changed everybody in this room’s life,” she said. “Why did any of this have to happen? We are killing each other for nothing.”

Judge Valerie Adair called Burley’s death a “totally senseless, unnecessary shooting that’s devastated one family.”

She said Benoit and Burley received the benefit of “very favorable negotiations” in part because of conflicting evidence, although some evidence pointed to their guilt.

Benoit was given credit for 312 days served in jail, while Bailey was credited for 424 days served.

As marshals escorted the two out of court, Benoit turned toward the gallery.

“Somebody got to be the bad guy,” he said. “Last time you gonna see a bad guy like me.”

Contact reporter David Ferrara at 702-380-1039 or dferrara@reviewjournal.com. Find him on Twitter: @randompoker.