Man takes plea deal in Caesars Palace shooting

A Nevada man has pleaded guilty to shooting two people in a casino elevator lobby on the Las Vegas Strip and avoided trial on charges that could have gotten him life in prison.

Richard Earl Shepherd Jr., 35, faces three to 40 years in prison after admitting Monday that he opened fire Aug. 4, 2007, inside the Caesars Palace hotel-casino, prosecutor Victoria Villegas said.

Shepherd pleaded guilty to one charge of attempted murder with a deadly weapon in the early morning shooting, which wounded a 20-year-old a 23-year-old. Prosecutors dropped two other charges of attempted murder and one count each of burglary with a weapon and carrying a concealed firearm.

Villegas said Shepherd admitted shooting at but missing a 19-year-old as people dived for cover. She called the shooting premeditated retaliation for a fight with several people moments earlier.

"He admitted shooting at three people and trying to kill them," Villegas said. "He admitted that after he got punched, he went out to the car, grabbed the gun, came back into Caesars, got on the elevator, and as the door opened, opened fire."

Shepherd has been held at the Clark County jail in lieu of $250,000 bail since shortly after his arrest Aug. 8. His lawyer, Scott Holper, said he will ask Clark County District Judge Donald Mosley to free Shepherd on probation when he is sentenced Aug. 19.

"In this case, you can't just look at the explosion. You have to look at the ignition," Holper said. He characterized the shooting as an angry reaction by Shepherd to being pummeled by several gang members who initiated a confrontation by insulting Shepherd's sister.

"These guys were looking for a fight, and they bit off more than they could chew," the defense lawyer said.