The Tragedy
The son of former Nevada State Senator Pat Spearman was shot and killed early Thursday morning at the Aliante Casino in North Las Vegas. Na’onche Osborne, 23, died from multiple gunshot wounds, as confirmed by the Clark County coroner’s office on Saturday. The shooting took place at Aliante Casino, where North Las Vegas police responded to reports of a shooting around 4:30 a.m.
This tragic loss of life marks the second time in recent years that Spearman’s family has been involved in a shooting incident.
Who is Pat Spearman?
Pat Spearman is a former Democratic state senator who served several terms in the Nevada Legislature. She was first elected to the state senate in 2012 and became the first openly lesbian member of the Nevada Legislature. Spearman later ran for mayor of North Las Vegas in 2022 but lost that bid.
History of Shooting Incidents at Spearman’s Home
During her mayoral campaign in October 2022, a shooting at Spearman’s home brought her family into the public spotlight. Na’onche Osborne, then 21, shot his cousin, David Spearman, in Pat Spearman’s home.
What many people didn’t know at the time was that this wasn’t the first such incident. According to North Las Vegas police, a prior shooting involving Osborne had occurred at the home on September 1, 2022, but went unreported until the October incident came to light.
Following the October 2022 shooting, Osborne was arrested and booked on counts of attempted murder, battery with a deadly weapon, and discharging a gun into an occupied structure. According to court records, he was sentenced to a year in county jail and ordered to pay restitution.
That incident became a focal point during her mayoral campaign, with Spearman having to address it publicly while continuing her run for office.
The Aftermath of Thursday’s Shooting
The suspect in Thursday’s casino shooting, 19-year-old Aerion Warmsley, allegedly fled the scene after killing Osborne. What followed was a dangerous crime spree that put many lives at risk.
After leaving the casino, Warmsley allegedly carjacked at least three drivers and led police on a high-speed chase exceeding 100 miles per hour. During this rampage, he also crashed into a bus stop before eventually being apprehended.
Warmsley now faces charges of open murder and robbery. He’s being held without bail at the North Las Vegas Community Correctional Center.
The Family’s Response
A family spokesperson shared this statement:
“It is with profound sadness that we share the news of the passing of Senator Spearman’s beloved son. This is an unimaginable loss for the senator and their family, and they are heartbroken.”
The statement also mentioned that the family has requested privacy during this difficult time.
A Loss That Raises Important Questions
This incident raises an important issue for our community to consider:
The North Las Vegas Police Department took 11 hours to provide preliminary information about the murder, unlike Las Vegas Metro police who give on-scene press briefings for homicides. This significant delay raises serious questions about transparency and public information policies in North Las Vegas.
This delay represents a troubling lack of accountability from local officials. Civilians deserve timely information about serious crimes in their communities, especially when these crimes lead to additional public safety threats like carjackings and high-speed chases.
Local authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding this deadly shooting at Aliante Casino.
8 News Now Investigator David Charnes was the first to report this news on Saturday.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
