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Trial begins for man in ‘Thunder’ shooting case

FILE - In this March 24, 2014, file photo, Joey Kadmiri consults with his lawyer Carl Arnold at the Clark County Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas Township Justice Court. Jury selection has begun for the trial of a 24-year-old man accused of firing a gun as he tried to make off with costumes and props used by Thunder From Down Under male performers on the Las Vegas Strip. Prosecutors on Monday, July 7, 2014, dropped eight charges against Joey Kadmiri, including attempted murder, armed robbery and several robbery with use of a weapon counts. (AP Photo/Las Vegas Sun, L.E. Baskow, File) FILE - In this March 24, 2014, file photo, Joey Kadmiri consults with his lawyer Carl Arnold at the Clark County Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas Township Justice Court. Jury selection has begun for the trial of a 24-year-old man accused of firing a gun as he tried to make off with costumes and props used by Thunder From Down Under male performers on the Las Vegas Strip. Prosecutors on Monday, July 7, 2014, dropped eight charges against Joey Kadmiri, including attempted murder, armed robbery and several robbery with use of a weapon counts. (AP Photo/Las Vegas Sun, L.E. Baskow, File)

By Associated Press July 8, 2014 1 min read

LAS VEGAS (AP) – A prosecutor told a jury was a miracle no one was killed when a .44-caliber handgun went off during a backstage struggle between well-muscled members of the Thunder From Down Under male revue and a man on methamphetamine trying to make off with costumes and props in Las Vegas.

Deputy Clark County District Attorney Nick Portz said Tuesday during his opening statement that the case against 24-year-old Joey Kadmiri isn’t complicated.

Portz says the state will prove Kadmiri is guilty of nine felony burglary, robbery, battery and weapon charges.

Defense attorneys Joshua Tomsheck and Roy Nelson reserved their opening statement for later this week.

Kadmiri has pleaded not guilty.

Tomsheck has said Kadmiri had drug and mental health issues before the March 18 incident at the Excalibur Hotel and Casino.