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A Las Vegas road rage suspect charged with murdering an 11-year-old boy smirked and laughed at the victim's family during his hearing, according to an irate courtroom judge.
Tyler Johns, 22, is accused of fatally shooting Brandon Dominguez-Chavarria around 7.30am on November 14 while riding with his stepfather, Valente Ayala, on the 215 Beltway in Henderson, just outside of Las Vegas.
Johns allegedly fired a handgun into Ayala's SUV after the suspect and stepfather jockeyed for position, trying to pass each other on the bustling freeway.
Shots rang out after the two men rolled their windows down and got into a verbal dispute just before Johns pointed the gun toward the backseat and pulled the trigger, killing Dominguez-Chavarria while on his way to school, the Las Vegas Metro Police Department said.
During court on Tuesday, District Judge Jacqueline Bluth stated that she was informed that Johns had laughed at the boy's family and called them names, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
'If it did happen, it will never happen again,' Bluth defiantly said as she took the bench.
A victim's advocate who had been seated with the child's family said they caught Johns smiling and laughing, and reported the incident to the marshal, Chief Deputy District Attorney Marc DiGiacomo stated.
Prior to Bluth's comment, a marshal had escorted Johns out of the courtroom and into a sally port, a secure and controlled vehicle bay used to transport prisoners.
A judge has accused Tyle Johns, 22, of smiling and laughing at the family of the 11-year-old boy he is accused of fatally shooting during a road rage incident during court on Tuesday in Las Vegas, Nevada
Brandon Dominguez-Chavarria was shot and killed on November 14 after his stepfather, Valente Ayala, and Johns got into a heated road rage dispute on the 215 Beltway in Henderson
Ryan Helmick, John's attorney, said his client didn't do anything directed at the victim's family, and that the suspect is taking the case 'very seriously.'
'It flat out did not happen. This is a very tragic case, and Tyler is taking it very seriously. The tensions are high, but we don’t appreciate the allegations being made,' Helmick said, adding that Johns was upset after hearing what he was accused of doing.
Bluth also addressed the 'high tensions' in the courtroom, but assured that her hearings are always 'calm.'
'My courtroom is always very, very calm, even though emotions run very high in here,' the judge added.
'And the reason why it runs so calmly is that I treat every single person that walks in those doors with dignity and respect.'
Every seat in the courtroom was filled as nearly a dozen of the victim's family members, including Ayala, attended the hearing, the outlet reported.
Approximately 10 of Johns' family members sat quietly on the opposite side of the gallery.
When Johns' case was called, his lawyer argued that his client should not be charged with first-degree murder because he was not aware the boy was in the backseat of the SUV when he fired the gun.
After hearing what Johns allegedly did, District Judge Jacqueline Bluth said: 'If it did happen, it will never happen again'
The little boy was on his way to school when he was shot dead that morning
Harrowing bodycam footage showed Ayala in anguish after his son was fatally shot during the road rage incident.
The distraught stepfather was seen crying to a police officer and pleading: 'My kid is dead.'
'He's dead?' the incredulous officer replied.
Johns then walked up to the cop at the scene of the crime and offered his hands behind his back unprompted to be handcuffed.
'Officer, take me,' Johns said. 'I shot at him, bro. I didn't know it was a f***ing kid in the back.'
As Johns was cuffed and then moved into the police car, Ayala's cries could still be heard in the background.
The suspect then attempted an explanation, telling the officer: 'We were road raging. He came up around the side, like on the merge.'
The footage released by Las Vegas police also showed Johns commenting on the actual shooting.
After offering his hands to the officer, Johns was promptly handcuffed and taken into a police vehicle
Ayala could be seen lying in the middle of the road as he agonized over the death of his stepson
He said: 'It's 100 percent my fault. I shot at him, dude. I didn't even know he had a kid in the car.'
The footage continued with Ayala sprawled out on the road, cursing and wailing at the tragic death of his stepson.
Later in the video, Johns asked the officer: 'Is there any chance that the kid will be okay?'
'There's always a chance. I don't know. After 20 years, I've kinda seen everything happen,' the cop responded.
'If you're a praying man, I would be praying a lot for him right now.'
Ayala's cries remained audible as Johns spoke to law enforcement.
Johns was arrested at the scene of the crime. His gun was also recovered.
The child was treated by the Henderson Fire Department and then rushed to the University Medical Center of Southern Nevada, where he died.
Johns' trial is set to begin on November 9. He remains in custody without bail after pleading not guilty to first-degree murder and two counts of discharging a firearm
Authorities said they 'explored the possibility of charging the stepfather with a crime', the Las Vegas Review Journal previously reported, but Ayala was ultimately not charged with any wrongdoing.
After Helmick said his client should not be charged with first-degree murder, Judge Bluth rejected his argument.
She instead sided with the prosecutor, who argued that Nevada's child abuse laws do not require that an act be committed knowingly.
'In the statute he's charged under, you don't have to know the age of your victim,' DiGiacomo explained.
Bluth agreed with him, stating: 'If you fire a weapon not knowing and not meaning to hit a child and the child dies from it, you are on the hook for first-degree murder.'
Johns has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and two counts of discharging a firearm.
His trial is set to begin on November 9. He remains in custody without bail.
The Daily Mail contacted Helmick and DiGiacomo for comment.