Zane Floyd

The Story of Zane Floyd: A Tragic Supermarket Massacre

In the early hours of June 3, 1999, the city of Las Vegas, Nevada, became the backdrop for a brutal and senseless act of violence that would forever mark its history. The perpetrator of this heinous crime was Zane Michael Floyd, a 23-year-old former Marine whose life took a devastating turn that led him to become one of America's convicted mass murderers.

Early Life and Background

Born on September 20, 1975, Floyd grew up in Nevada, where he attended Faith Lutheran Middle School & High School. Following his education, he joined the United States Marine Corps in 1994. Floyd's military career was short-lived; by July 1998, he was honorably discharged with the rank of lance corporal. The discharge came as a result of heavy drinking, with a clear message that re-enlistment was not an option.

Back in civilian life, Floyd found work as a security guard and part-time bouncer. However, his life spiraled downward in the days leading up to his infamous crime. Recently fired from his security job and evicted, he returned to live with his parents. During his trial, it was suggested that Floyd might have suffered from fetal alcohol syndrome, a claim that painted a picture of a troubled past.

The Massacre at Albertson's

The tranquility of a typical morning in Las Vegas was shattered when Floyd entered the Albertson's supermarket on West Sahara Avenue at around 5:15 AM. Armed with a Mossberg 500 Cruiser 12-gauge pump-action shotgun, Floyd embarked on a deadly rampage.

First, he shot Thomas Darnell, a 40-year-old worker, in the back, killing him instantly. He then turned his weapon on Carlos Chuck Leos, the 41-year-old store manager, shooting him in the face and neck. Not stopping there, Floyd shot 31-year-old worker Dennis Troy Sargent in the chest, leaving no room for survival.

Unfortunately, Zachary T. Emenegger, a 23-year-old worker, crossed paths with Floyd. Emenegger ran for his life, diving under a produce table in a desperate attempt to evade the gunfire. Despite his efforts, Floyd shot him in the chest, puncturing a lung. Floyd, mistakenly believing Emenegger was dead, whispered, "Yeah, you're dead," and moved on.

Floyd's final victim was 60-year-old clerk Lucille Alice Tarantino, whom he found at the back of the store. He shot her in the head at point-blank range, later recounting, “I looked right at her, and I just, I just, just blew her head apart.” After ensuring Emenegger was no longer a threat, Floyd fled the scene, having used seven shotgun shells in a span of seven minutes.

In a chilling revelation, it was discovered that hours before the shooting, Floyd had called an escort service. A 20-year-old woman who arrived at his apartment at 3:30 AM was threatened with a shotgun and raped. He eventually gave her a chance to escape before heading to the supermarket with his weapon.

Arrest and Confession

As Floyd exited through the supermarket's north doors, he encountered the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, who had been alerted by an employee suspecting a robbery. Floyd retreated into the store before attempting another escape through the west doors. Surrounded by officers, he threatened suicide by pointing the shotgun at his head. After a tense eight-minute standoff, Floyd surrendered and was arrested.

In police custody, Floyd did not hesitate to confess. He chillingly admitted his desire to kill, stating, "I've always just wanted to know, call me crazy, psychotic, whatever, I've just always wanted to know what it's like to shoot someone ... ever since I was a little kid, I've always, you know, ever since I saw my first, my first war movies, I've always just wanted to go to war and kill people."

The Trial and Conviction

Floyd's trial was swift, lasting only three days. The jury was presented with his confession, alongside surveillance footage from the store. Emenegger, who miraculously survived, testified against Floyd. On July 13, 2000, the jury returned a verdict of guilty on multiple counts, including four counts of first-degree murder with a deadly weapon, four counts of sexual assault with a deadly weapon, and other related charges.

The jury sentenced Floyd to death for each murder count, citing that the aggravating circumstances outweighed any mitigating factors. Additionally, the court imposed maximum prison terms for the other offenses, to be served consecutively, and ordered more than $180,000 in restitution.

A Long Road of Appeals

Floyd's legal battles did not end with his conviction. He filed a direct appeal to the Nevada Supreme Court, which upheld his conviction and sentence in March 2002. The U.S. Supreme Court denied certiorari in 2003. Floyd's subsequent state and federal habeas corpus petitions were similarly denied, with the U.S. District Court partially granting a dismissal in 2014 but allowing for an appeal on specific issues.

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the denial of Floyd's habeas petition in October 2019, and a subsequent petition for certiorari was denied by the U.S. Supreme Court in November 2020.

Scheduled Execution and Delays

In April 2021, Nevada sought to execute Floyd, citing his exhausted legal options. An execution date was set for July 26, 2021, via lethal injection. However, a federal judge stayed the execution, citing the need to review Nevada's new execution protocol involving an untested sequence of drugs.

Floyd filed additional petitions challenging various aspects of his execution and its scheduling, all of which were dismissed. In February 2022, another stay was issued due to the imminent expiration of Nevada's ketamine supply, a critical component of the lethal injection protocol.

As of July 2023, Floyd continues to pursue appeals, with at least two petitions pending before the Nevada Supreme Court. Should his execution proceed, Floyd would be the first person executed in Nevada since 2006.

Sources

For more details on Zane Floyd, visit Wikipedia.