Affidavit: Man shot following results of coin flip

Affidavit: Man shot following results of coin flip

From the Las Vegas Optic

The flip of a coin led to a Las Vegas man being shot in the groin, and now police are looking for the alleged shooter, according to court records.

An arrest warrant was issued Aug. 23 for Michael Gallegos, 33, of Las Vegas, following a shooting at a home in the 300 block of Santa Fe Street on the city’s west side.

Las Vegas police responded to Alta Vista Regional Hospital Aug. 23 where a man was being treated for a gunshot wound. The man told police he’d been at the home on Santa Fe Street to see a woman he often buys marijuana from, and that the two were sitting on the couch together when Gallegos entered the room and accused him of flirting with the woman, according to an arrest affidavit filed in San Miguel Magistrate Court.

Gallegos pulled out a coin and asked the man to choose heads or tails. The man chose tails, and Gallegos flipped the coin. It landed heads, and Gallegos pulled a handgun from his waistband and shot the man in the groin, according to the affidavit. Gallegos and the woman got into a car and drove away towards Hot Springs Boulevard.

Gallegos has a lengthy criminal history in New Mexico, including a 2005 conviction for breaking and entering, and a 2019 conviction of DWI and resisting arrest. He is currently sought on one felony count of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

Gallegos has four other pending court cases as well, including a charge of criminal damage to property for allegedly breaking a window at the San Miguel County Detention Center in January while he was incarcerated at the facility.

Gallegos is awaiting trial in a case from November 2018 where he’s accused of threatening a man with a large rock after attempting to break into a home, and he’s awaiting trial in a case from December 2018 where he’s accused of punching a corrections officer at SMCDC.

Gallegos is also awaiting trial on charges of escaping from community custody release. Investigators say that while under house arrest, Gallegos left his home on multiple occasions, a violation of his conditions of release.