Las Vegas man accused of deadly carjacking of sleeping man indicted

Las Vegas Man Indicted in Fatal Carjacking of Sleeping Passenger Clark County grand jury indicted Harold Allen, 55, on Friday on charges of open murder with a deadly weapon, grand larceny of a motor vehicle, two counts of battery with a deadly weapon, and two counts of reckless driving resulting in death or serious bodily harm, according to District Court records. Allen was arrested April 11 after he took a white Hyundai Sonata that was idling while parked outside a Walmart at West Charleston Boulevard and South Arville Street, police said. He then rear‑ended a minivan at approximately 50 mph at the intersection of Charleston and Essex Drive before striking a boulder and a light pole, according to police reports. Benito Saragosa, 37, was sleeping inside the Sonata while his mother shopped in the Walmart and died after the collision, a Metropolitan Police Department arrest report states. The Clark County coroner’s office determined that Saragosa died from complications of aspiration of gastric contents, alcohol intoxication, and the motor‑vehicle crash. Allen remains in custody at the Clark County Detention Center without bail, jail records show. Court records indicate Allen is represented by public defenders, who did not immediately respond to a request for comment. An arraignment is scheduled for Wednesday. Saragosa’s mother, Deborah Requena, told police she left the Hyundai running with the keys inside so her son could use the air conditioning. After finishing her shopping, Requena returned to find the vehicle involved in a nearby crash, police said. Following the impact, both Allen and Saragosa were transported to University Medical Center. Saragosa was pronounced dead at the hospital. Allen told investigators he entered the Hyundai because he believed it was his girlfriend’s white Toyota Camry. He said he could not recall the immediate aftermath of the crash but claimed the accelerator pedal became stuck prior to impact. Police noted that Allen’s account conflicts with a witness who told officers Allen stated he was trying to “beat the light.” Two occupants of the minivan that was struck were also taken to University Medical Center; one reported neck and spine injuries, police said. Allen’s criminal history includes 17 cases filed in Las Vegas Justice Court since 2000, many for minor offenses such as drug possession and trespassing. In 2020 he was convicted of attempted grand larceny, received a suspended sentence and was placed in drug court, resulting in an honorable discharge, according to District Court records. In 2024 he was sentenced to 180 days in the Las Vegas jail after a conviction for conspiracy to commit fraud in a gaming establishment, Justice Court records show.