Inset: Allysandra Blea (Law&Crime Network). Background: The Las Vegas area where Blea allegedly shot her boyfriend last week (Google Maps).
A 20-year-old woman from Nevada, who officials claim “had a fascination with guns,” faces accusations of fatally shooting her boyfriend while he was taking photos of her with a firearm. Authorities announced that Allysandra Blea was apprehended last week and charged with open murder in connection to the death of 23-year-old Mark Gaughan.
As detailed in a press release by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, officers were dispatched following a report of a shooting involving a man in the 1000 block of Nassau Drive at approximately 4:47 a.m. on August 23.
Blea placed the 911 call and told the emergency dispatcher that it was an “accidental shooting,” Las Vegas CBS affiliate KLAS reported.
At the location, first responders discovered a man identified as Gaughan lying on the sidewalk with a suspected gunshot wound to his neck.
Police provided life-saving assistance until emergency medical teams arrived and took over. Unfortunately, Gaughan succumbed to his injuries and was declared deceased at the scene. The homicide unit undertook the investigation.
The release reveals, “Detectives determined the victim was photographing 20-year-old Allysandra Blea posing with a gun near a vehicle.” During the session, the gun went off, resulting in the victim’s shooting.”
Investigators reportedly found Polaroid photos at the scene, one of which depicted a second woman (not Blea) holding a knife as Blea was “lying back [on the second woman] holding a black firearm that was pointed at her mouth with her finger on the trigger.” A second photo allegedly also showed Blea with her finger on the trigger of the firearm.
The second woman recounted what she remembered about the incident.
“[She] recalled Allysandra situated on her lap with the firearm, as Mark took a photo with the flash going off,” the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported, citing a probable cause affidavit. “[She] then witnessed another flash go off, and Allysandra pointed the firearm at Mark. She stated that she did not see Allysandra pull the trigger, but she heard the gunshot.”
A fourth individual sleeping in the home at the time told police he had previously worked at a gun store and remembered “removing the magazine and clearing the chamber” on the firearm earlier that evening. Blea and the other woman suggested that Gaughan put the gun back together while they were getting changed prior to taking the photos.
As the investigation continued, police reportedly found some disturbing social media posts from Blea about her love of guns.
“Allysandra”s identified account revealed that she had a fascination with firearms. In several conversations with various accounts, there was talk about her love of shooting guns, owning guns, building her arsenal, and shooting people in the face,” the affidavit reportedly said. “There were several photographs of Allysandra holding various firearms (handguns, revolvers and rifles) in different poses to include the firearm pressed against her head, against stuffed animals’ heads and shooting bottles at an unknown location.”
Police also said that in one online comment, Blea wrote, “I wish I could shoot people with real guns and get away with it.”
Blea made her initial appearance in the Las Vegas Justice Court on Tuesday. A judge denied her request for bond.
