Judge holds Las Vegas defendant accused of killing woman, toddler without bail

A Las Vegas judge ordered that Ziaire Ham, 22, be held without bail after he was charged in the March shooting that killed 1‑year‑old Nhalani Hiner and 20‑year‑old Danaijha Robinson. Ham was indicted in April on charges of execution and discharging a firearm into an occupied vehicle. Authorities say he fatally shot Hiner and Robinson, who were found inside an SUV on the 11000 block of Victoria Medici Street. Prosecutors asked the court to deny bail. Defense attorney Nicholas Wooldridge urged District Judge Michelle Leavitt to send Ham to a psychiatric facility for treatment. Wooldridge told the judge, “He’s a first‑time offender with perfectly nary transgression prior to this psychotic, catastrophic event.” He added that Ham has lived in Las Vegas for most of his life. “The evidence is not evident, nor is the presumption large of an open execution or first‑degree murder,” Wooldridge said, citing a legal standard. “But the evidence is evident and the presumption large that this is simply a case of not guilty by reason of insanity.” Police said Ham confessed, stating he believed he was being followed and that the victims’ car did not belong in the area of the shooting. He reportedly said he fired into the vehicle when the occupant would not exit. Chief Deputy District Attorney Christopher Hamner argued that Ham had “made a bid of precise calculated decisions.” Hamner said that while in Arizona, Ham feared someone might harm him, decided to return to Las Vegas and stole a car to do so. Prosecutors claim Ham pointed a weapon at his mother and her friend after arriving at their Las Vegas residence before committing the fatal shooting. Hamner said the suspect believed he was in danger and wanted to protect himself. “The problem is that this 20‑year‑old woman and this 18‑month‑old baby aren’t doing anything,” Hamner said. “They’re just sitting in the car. And what we see on the video is Mr. Ham walks up, he starts to shoot from the side of the vehicle and fires off a number of shots. Then he moves to the front of the vehicle and does it again. Essentially, he executes this baby and this young woman.” Hamner added that the suspect “was not under any delusion” and knew he had killed someone, but believed the victim was a Black man. After the shooting, officials said Ham fled to Utah, evaded police and continued to commit crimes there. A bail hearing indicated he pleaded guilty to “several charges” in Utah and received a jail sentence. Wooldridge told Leavitt, “All these acts were each done under a delusion, judge,” noting that his client believed he was being targeted by individuals, including family members. Tina Marshall, an aunt of Robinson, attended the hearing and watched tearfully. After court she said, “She lost her life being innocent.” Marshall described Leavitt’s decision to keep Ham in jail as “perfect.” “He is simply a danger and because I couldn’t protect my niece, at least we could ask for the community to be protected,” she said. For further information, contact Noble Brigham at nbrigham@reviewjournal.com.