Road Rage Altercation Leads to Death of 11-Year-Old Boy — Details

An everyday school drop-off became a family's worst nightmare on Friday morning when an 11-year-old boy was shot in a road-rage shooting that investigators say could have been prevented.

Brandon Dominguez-Chavarria was killed instantly — struck in the head by a single bullet as he sat in the backseat of his stepfather's SUV just after 7:30 a.m. on November 14, 2025. Now, prosecutors, police, and Brandon's devastated family are grappling with a heart-wrenching truth: the child's life ended because of a senseless highway spat.

A Morning Commute Turns Deadly

The tragedy began on the westbound 215 near Gibson Road, where 22-year-old Tyler Johns, driving a blue Hyundai Elantra, allegedly became embroiled in a tense exchange with Valente Ayala, Brandon's stepfather, behind the wheel of a black Chevrolet Traverse.

According to an arrest report obtained by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Tyler admitted to officers that he had fired the fatal shot — though he insisted he hadn't known a child was in the car. A Henderson Police Department detective wrote:

"Tyler spontaneously admitted to officers that he had discharged his firearm into the black Chevrolet Traverse. And after admitting to the discharge of his firearm, he turned around and placed his hands behind his back without prompting from the officers, in what appeared to be a movement to allow them to place handcuffs on his wrists."

'My Kid Is Dead': Harrowing Aftermath Captured on Camera

Newly released body-camera footage captured the horrifying aftermath. In the footage, Valente can be heard telling officers, "My kid is dead."

Tyler is also shown speaking with police, "I shot at him, I didn't know there was a kid in the back," and again, "It's 100% my fault, I shot at him. I didn't know that he had a kid in the car."

Brandon was seated in the back of Valente's vehicle, on his way to school, when the bullet struck him. Two eyewitnesses told police they opened the SUV's back door and found the boy "slumped over" and bleeding profusely.

Eyewitnesses Describe Escalating Aggression

Authorities said the altercation began as both vehicles maneuvered through congested traffic. A witness, Edward Mack, told police, "It seemed like the driver of the black Chevy was angrier and the aggressor." Both drivers allegedly rolled down their windows and began arguing when Tyler pulled out a handgun and fired once.

Valente responded by ramming Tyler's car, trying to prevent him from fleeing, police said. An on-duty Metro officer passing by stopped and took control of the scene.

The stepfather later told investigators that he believed Tyler had aimed for him — not the child — and stressed he was unarmed and did not own any firearms. Brandon was rushed to University Medical Center, where doctors pronounced him dead.

Police Reaction and Legal Outlook

The tragedy rocked both the local community and law enforcement. Henderson Police Chief Reggie Rader said at a press conference, "This child was on his way to school today, and lives have been changed dramatically."

Legal experts say the case could hinge on the concept of transferred intent — a principle that holds shooters accountable even when they strike an unintended victim. "If they did not have a legal right to fire their gun, then they're responsible for whatever happens when they pull the trigger," said former District Attorney David Roger.

Criminal defense attorney Frank Coumou noted that Tyler may attempt a self-defense claim, explaining, "I could see where maybe Johns will argue that he felt so threatened and that he had to use deadly force because the stepdad was acting in an erratic way and using his car as a deadly weapon."

Tyler's attorney declined to comment to the Review-Journal. A judge denied Tyler bail on Saturday.

A Grieving Mother and a Community in Mourning

In a heartbreaking statement, Brandon's mother, Rubi Chavarria, addressed the court directly and pleaded for Tyler to remain behind bars, saying:

"You deserve to be in there for as long as you need to be in there because my son is never coming back. There's no excuse for you to be raging that bad for you to try to shoot at somebody who's scared just because you don't to go in front of you. There's no excuse for that."

"He was just trying to make it to school on time that morning. That's all he was doing […] he had his lunch bag ready," she told 8 News Now.

A GoFundMe page created by Victor Ayala and Sonia Chavarria paints a picture of Brandon as a bright, energetic child whose playful spirit and kindness left a lasting impression on everyone around him. The fundraiser adds that Brandon loved soccer, Roblox, TikTok dances, and woke up every day excited to go to school.

"We, the family, are raising these funds specifically to help support Brandon's mother, Rubi Chavarria, as she mourns the loss of her beloved son. No parent should ever have to walk through this kind of pain," the page further reads. By November 24, 2025, the campaign had raised more than $40,000 to support Rubi as she grieves the unthinkable loss of her son.

Following his arrest, Tyler refused to answer further questions and requested a lawyer. He is scheduled to appear in court again on December 4, 2025. As the legal process unfolds, Brandon's family continues to push for justice and hopes his story serves as a warning — and a plea.

Brandon's family now faces a future reshaped by a moment that never should have happened. As they wait for the case to move forward, their hope is simple — that their son's death will stand as a reminder of what is lost when anger takes the place of restraint, and that no other child will be taken in the same senseless way.