Defendant Sentenced for Shooting Murder, Robbery at Capitol Casino
DATE: January 12, 2024
CASE: Dawan Pecot (Case #22FE014097)
PROSECUTOR: Principal Criminal Attorney Kristen Andersen, Homicide Unit
The Honorable Michael Bowman sentenced Dawan Pecot to life in prison without the possibility of parole. On November 27, 2023, a jury convicted Pecot of first-degree murder with the allegation of personal use of a firearm causing death and the special circumstance of murder during the commission of robbery found true. Pecot was also convicted of second-degree robbery with the allegation of personal use of a firearm, intentional discharge of a firearm and aggravating factors found true.
On August 22, 2022, Dawan Pecot attempted to rob the Capitol Casino. The security guard, Sean Bernal, caught Pecot and walked him out of the casino at taser point. When they got outside, Pecot pulled out a firearm and went back inside the casino. Once inside at the casino’s cash cage, Pecot pointed the firearm at a casino employee. While that was occurring, Mr. Bernal made his way back to the cash cage and attempted to tase Pecot. Simultaneously, Pecot shot Mr. Bernal one time in the neck, killing him. Pecot then stole over $38,000 dollars and fled the casino. The casino employee chased him outside and watched as Pecot tried to hide in his vehicle. When police arrived, Pecot jumped out of his vehicle and shot one time in the employee’s direction. Pecot then tried to flee on foot before being apprehended by the police.