Details have been released on what led a Nevada man to shoot and kill his girlfriend inside a downtown Las Vegas apartment on Tuesday.
23-year-old Jesus Navarrette is currently being held at the Clark County Detention Center and is charged with one count of open murder.
According to an arrest report, the victim, identified as Ashley Benitez, was found lying in a small hallway of the apartment and suffering from a gunshot wound to her left shoulder. She was transported to UMC, where she was later pronounced dead.
Investigators say an AR-15 rifle was found on a mattress near the body, as well as large amounts of hair consistent with that of the victim throughout the studio apartment.
Navarrette explained to police during an interview that he and Bentiez had met at work and had been dating for about two years. They moved into the downtown Las Vegas apartment about seven months ago and claimed their relationship was normal with the occasional ups and downs.
The relationship began to spiral with constant fighting after Benitez caught Navarrette masturbating about a month ago.
After driving home from work together on January 31, Navarrette says he stayed in the car while Benitez went inside. She later came downstairs to get him after he ignored her calls to come inside the apartment, and a verbal argument then began inside.
Nevattette initially told detectives he grabbed his rifle, aimed at Benitez, and pulled the trigger. He later elaborated, stating that they were both holding onto the rifle, and he accidentally fired at her in an attempt to break her grip.
An autopsy later confirmed that Benitez died as a result of a gunshot wound to the neck. The manner of death was listed as a homicide.
Police later placed Nevattette under arrest on February 1, according to the report.
Court records show a hearing is yet to be set for Navarrette.
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