Man gets prison time for stabbings at store

A man who went on a stabbing spree in a North Las Vegas Food 4 Less grocery store in 2007 that left two people hospitalized was sentenced Monday to four to 10 years in prison.

District Judge Elizabeth Gonzalez sentenced 40-year-old Jerry Gomez to prison time after Gomez pleaded guilty but mentally ill to one count of attempted murder with a deadly weapon.

The "guilty but mentally ill" plea means Gomez will get treated in prison for mental health problems.

In court, Gomez said he was sorry for the March 2007 attack.

"I just want to apologize," he said.

Originally from Eastland, Texas, Gomez claimed a Kingman, Ariz., address at the time of the attack.

Authorities said Gomez walked into the gaming area of the Food 4 Less on Las Vegas Boulevard near Carey Avenue about 11:15 a.m. on March 6, 2007.

He stabbed gaming clerk Claudia Jarvi, 48, whom he did not know, multiple times.

The store's security guard rushed to stop him and used pepper spray, and Gomez started stabbing the guard, North Las Vegas police said. The guard later was taken to University Medical Center for treatment of serious wounds.

Two more store clerks then jumped into the fray and got Gomez under control. They had minor wounds and were treated at the grocery store.

Video footage of the attack was captured by a customer with a cell phone and distributed to the media. The footage showed Gomez running through the grocery store before several men subdued him.

In the background, Jarvi could be heard screaming in terror. She was taken to UMC in critical condition. She since has recovered.

Jarvi attended Gomez's sentencing Monday. Although she had to have plastic surgery, she said she forgave Gomez and hoped he got the treatment he needs.

Jarvi still works as a gaming clerk but has been transferred to a different store. She said she still gets nervous working at nights because of the attack and has been in therapy.

She said that Gomez's sentence was "fair" and that "justice has been served."

Contact reporter David Kihara at dkihara@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039.