Man, 21, to face trial in shooting death outside house party

A 21-year-old man accused of shooting and killing his friend during a fight outside a house party is headed for trial in District Court.

Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Karen Bennett-Haron ruled Monday that there was enough evidence to send Eric Sandoval to District Court, where he will face charges of murder, attempted murder with a deadly weapon and battery with substantial bodily harm.

She dismissed one count of carrying a concealed weapon.

Sandoval is accused of killing 19-year-old Nester Lee and wounding five others Aug. 30 outside a house on Spring Arts Avenue, near Alexander Road and Durango Drive.

Authorities said Sandoval fired shots after a fight broke out between two groups outside the house.

During a preliminary hearing Monday, Sandoval's friend Cristian Murillo, 22, said Sandoval was trying to shoot another man when he accidentally shot his friend Lee in the chest.

Immediately after the shooting, Sandoval said, "My bad, man. My bad," according to Murillo.

Sandoval's attorney, William "Bill" Terry, said it was clear that Sandoval never meant to hurt Lee. "This was an accidental shooting," Terry said.

But prosecutors said Sandoval meant to shoot and kill another man.

"Poor marksmanship is not a defense," said Deputy District Attorney Marc Schifalacqua, adding that after Sandoval shot Lee, he shot and wounded five others.

During the hearing, Bennett-Haron declined to reduce Sandoval's bail from $500,000 to $100,000, as Terry had requested.

Sandoval is scheduled to be arraigned Oct. 23.