An 11-year-old boy was shot and killed on his way to school during a road rage incident on the 215 Beltway near Gibson Road in Henderson, Nevada, on the morning of Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. Brandon Dominguez-Chavarria died from a gunshot wound to the head after a confrontation between his stepfather and another driver escalated to violence on the congested freeway.
The incident began at approximately 7:30 a.m. when two vehicles started jockeying for position on the westbound 215 Beltway, according to the Henderson Police Department. One vehicle attempted to pass on the shoulder of the freeway, prompting both drivers to roll down their windows and engage in a heated argument. During the confrontation, 22-year-old Tyler Matthew Johns allegedly fired a single shot from a handgun into the other vehicle, striking Brandon, who was sitting in the back seat.
Brandon was being driven to school by his stepfather, Valente Ayala, at the time of the shooting. After the shot was fired, Ayala rammed Johns’ vehicle, causing both cars to stop in the middle of the freeway. Both drivers exited their vehicles and continued their heated exchange as a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officer happened to be driving by and stopped at the scene.
Police body camera footage captured the immediate aftermath of the shooting, showing Ayala’s distress as he exclaimed that his child was dead. The video also recorded Johns admitting to the shooting. He told the responding officer that he shot at the other driver, but stated he did not know there was a child in the car. Without prompting from officers, Johns turned around and placed his hands behind his back, appearing to allow them to place handcuffs on his wrists.
“I shot at him bro,” Johns tells the officer in the video. “I didn’t know there was a (expletive) kid in the back.” Later, a handcuffed Johns says in the footage, “It’s 100% my fault. I shot at him, dude. I didn’t even know he had a kid in the car.”
The firearm used in the shooting was recovered at the scene, and Johns was taken into custody. Henderson Fire Department personnel arrived shortly after and transported Brandon to a local hospital, but despite their best efforts, the child succumbed to his injuries. The Clark County Coroner later confirmed the cause of death as a gunshot wound to the head.
Johns was charged with open murder, which under Nevada law is defined as first-degree murder and other included offenses, along with discharging a firearm into an occupied vehicle. He made his first court appearance on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025, where Judge Barbara Schifalacqua ruled he would be held without bail.
During the hearing, the judge emphasized the severity of Johns’ actions. “The court, quite candidly, could not underscore the danger of this enough, because this was a stranger, and it was amongst other citizens of Henderson,” Judge Schifalacqua said. “The idea of this conduct standing on its own is unbelievably dangerous.”
Brandon’s mother, Rubi Chavarria, spoke in court pleading for Johns to be held without bail. She argued that her son’s life was taken away regardless of whether Johns saw him in the vehicle. She expressed concern about the danger Johns might pose if released, questioning what would happen if he engaged in similar behavior with someone else and emphasizing that no one should have to endure what her family is experiencing.
Henderson Police Chief Reggie Rader addressed the incident during a press conference, calling it a senseless act that took a young boy’s life. The department emphasized that such tragedies are preventable and urged the community to exercise patience and restraint behind the wheel, particularly during the holiday season when crashes and dangerous driving behaviors tend to increase across the valley.
According to the declaration of arrest, Ayala was not armed during the road rage incident and does not own any firearms. He told officials he believed Johns intended to shoot him, but based on their speeds, the bullet struck the child instead. Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson later confirmed that prosecutors would not charge Ayala, though they had considered a charge of child abuse, neglect, or endangerment due to his driving. After reviewing videos and evidence, authorities determined his actions did not rise to a criminal level.
A GoFundMe page was created to support Brandon’s family. The fundraising page describes him as the light of his family, a happy and loving boy with the biggest heart, the silliest personality, and a joy that filled every room he entered. His mother and loved ones remembered him as someone who made every moment feel special, with dreams and hopes for a future they were excited to watch him grow into.
Brandon attended Hannah Marie Brown Elementary School, where classmates and their families expressed shock and grief over his death. The Clark County School District sent a letter to parents informing them of the loss and offering counseling resources to students who might need support during this difficult time.
Johns’ next court hearing is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. Road rage incidents like this highlight the dangers of aggressive driving and the importance of maintaining composure on the road, particularly when children or other vulnerable passengers may be present in vehicles. Law enforcement continues to urge drivers to avoid engaging in confrontational behavior that can quickly escalate to violence.