Man Opened Fire On Trio As Revenge For Being Maced Earlier — But, None Of Them Were Involved

A man wanted revenge for being sprayed with bear mace. So, he opened fire on three people, killing one. However, none of them were involved in the mace incident.

Now, the mistaken-identity killer will serve at least 50 years behind bars.

This month, a judge in Nevada sentenced Charles Dwayne Jones to life in prison for the killing of Travis Beutler in July 2021. Jones previously pleaded guilty to second-degree murder with the use of a deadly weapon and two counts of attempted murder with the use of a deadly weapon, according to News 4.

Jones will have to serve at least 50 years before becoming parole eligible, according to News 4.

On July 9, 2021, Reno police responded to a report of gunshots near Paradise Park, according to The Reno Gazette-Journal. Beutler had been shot six times and died at the scene. Two women, Beutler’s sister and fiancé, were both shot as well.

The two women were taken to the hospital and survived the shooting.

Police determined that Jones shot the trio as revenge for a previous incident where Jones was sprayed with bear mace, according to the Gazette-Journal. Jones mistakenly believed the three shooting victims were involved in the incident.

Beutler was shot six times and then Jones fired three shots into a car where the women sat, according to the Gazette-Journal.

"Meanwhile, Beutler’s sister sat with her brother dying in her arms, not even realizing she had been shot herself, while the victim’s fiancé remained in the car screaming that she was going to die having been shot 3 times," prosecutors said in announcing the sentence, according to the newspaper. "The fiancé was ultimately left blind due to the shooting."

Jones then ran through the nearby apartment complex and ditched his clothing and gun, the Gazette-Journal reported. He then went to a convenience store and bought a snack.