On November 14, 2025, an early morning drive in Henderson, Nevada turned into a heartbreaking tragedy, after 11-year-old Brandon Dominguez was shot and killed during a road rage incident.
Police say the deadly encounter happened after two drivers began fighting for space on a crowded freeway.
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| Brandon Dominguez |
According to reports from PEOPLE, Brandon was riding in the back seat of an SUV driven by his stepfather, Valente Ayala, as they headed to school around 7:30 a.m.
While they were on a congested freeway, Ayala and another driver started “jockeying for positions while trying to pass each other on the congested freeway.”
The other vehicle, a sedan, was driven by Tyler Matthew Johns, who authorities say became involved in a heated exchange with Ayala during the episode.
Few moments later, the verbal exchange between the two drivers intensified and that was when Johns reportedly pulled out a gun and fired a single shot into the SUV, hitting Brandon in the back seat.
Before officers arrived, Ayala reportedly rammed Johns’ vehicle after he fired the fatal shot, to keep him from fleeing the scene.
Both drivers then stopped in the middle of the freeway and continued arguing until someone flagged down police.
Emergency responders rushed Brandon to a nearby hospital, but despite life-saving efforts, he passed away from his injuries.
Newly released police bodycam footage below shows the immediate aftermath of the shooting.
Ayala can be seen crying out in despair, shouting, “My kid is dead… my son!” as officers rushed to help.
In the same footage, Johns is heard admitting what happened.
“We were road-raging,” 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.”
Officers later helped calm Ayala as he lay on the ground in shock, grabbing his hand as he sobbed.
Tyler Johns has been charged with one count of open murder with a deadly weapon enhancement and two separate weapons charges
He is currently being held at the Henderson Detention Center pending further court action.
Brandon’s family describes him as a joyful, loving child who lit up every room he entered.
On a GoFundMe created by his loved ones, they wrote:
“Brandon wasn’t just a child we loved; he was truly one of a kind. He had a silly, playful spirit that could make any of us smile, and a heart full of pure joy.”
In a Facebook statement, the Henderson Police Department called the shooting a “senseless act” and urged drivers to use more patience on the roads.
“As we enter the holiday season, we often see an increase in crashes and dangerous driving behaviors across the valley — but tragedies like this are preventable. It starts with all of us.” the department wrote.
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