A man who pleaded guilty to first-degree murder after a shooting at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Lake Tahoe will spend at least 22 years in prison.
Edgar Julian Delgado was sentenced to 55 years in prison with parole eligibility after serving the 22 years.
The Douglas County District Attorney's Office says during Thursday's sentencing, Delgado claimed to have no memory of the 2023 incident, due to drinking and taking cannabis.
The DA’s Office says they also showed a selfie Delgado took in the mirror of his hotel bathroom just hours before the shooting. The photo showed Delgado wearing a sweatshirt with “Strawberry Jams, But My Glock Don’t” on it.
The victim, 32-year-old Omar Garcia died at the hospital.
Update, April 19, 2024:
According to the Douglas County District Attorney, Edgar Julian Delgado pleaded guilty to first degree murder with a deadly weapon following a shooting that took place at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in South Lake Tahoe.
There were two charges of carrying a firearm, but as part of the plea, the second charge will be dropped.
Delgado's sentencing will take place on June 13.
He faces up to 50 years in prison.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE, March 25, 2023:
The Douglas County Sheriff's Office says it responded to reports of an active shooter at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Lake Tahoe, just after 8 a.m. on March 25, 2023.
South Lake Tahoe Police and the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office (EDSO) responded, as well.
When deputies got there, they found one man in the Hard Rock's Center Bar who had been shot in the head.
Tahoe Douglas Fire Department rushed the victim to Barton Hospital, where he later died. The victim was identified as 32-year-old Omar Reyes Garcia.
A description of the suspected shooter and his car were given to police by Hard Rock Security and Surveillance. Deputies with EDSO were able to find the suspect's car on Highway 50 near Sierra at Tahoe.
24-year-old Edgar Julian Delgado and Savannah Racquel Tautaupale, age 26, were arrested and booked into EDSO jail in South Lake, CA.
Delgado was arrested for open murder by the EDSO and Tautaupale was arrested for D.U.I. by the California Highway Patrol.
Nevada State Police report Highway 50 is back open, after it was closed in both directions due to the investigation there.
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Lake Tahoe posted this to its Instagram account after the incident:
