Las Vegas Sun

November 24, 2009

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Mentally ill plea made in killing in casino

Kim Smith

Friday, Jan. 5, 2001 | 9:33 a.m.

A 38-year-old man has pleaded guilty but mentally ill in the November 1999 shooting death of his former girlfriend inside the Golden Gate casino.

The plea agreement will ensure that Larry Taylor will receive mental health treatment while also guaranteeing that he will remain behind bars for at least 40 years.

According to police, Taylor walked into the Golden Gate and began shooting at Gloria Cohns as she was dealing cards in the crowded casino and continued to fire at her as she fled into a women's restroom. A moment later, she came out of the restroom and collapsed.

After pointing the gun at his own head, Taylor surrendered by placing his semiautomatic pistol on a craps table.

Taylor has spent most of the last 14 months in a state mental health facility because doctors said he didn't understand the nature of the charges against him and couldn't aid his attorneys in his defense.

On Thursday, Taylor pleaded guilty but mentally ill to murder with use of a deadly weapon, which comes with two consecutive terms of 20 years to life in prison.

District Judge Valorie Vega is scheduled to formally sentence Taylor on Feb. 15.

Cohns, who was 37, is survived by three children.

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