Clark Co. prosecutors secure conviction in triple murder case.
Clark County Deputy Prosecutor Laurel Smith helped secure a conviction and life sentence recommendation for Brent Luyster in one of the region’s most disturbing murder cases. Luyster, 37, was found guilty of three counts of first-degree aggravated murder, attempted murder, and weapons charges for the 2016 shooting deaths of Joseph LaMar, Janell Knight, and Zachary Thompson. Prosecutors argued that Luyster fired six shots — killing three people and severely wounding a fourth — in a calculated and escalating act of violence. In her closing argument, Smith said, “With those six shots, he caused irreversible harm to the people closest to him.”
Throughout the trial, Smith and co-counsel James Smith built a case based on DNA evidence, witness testimony, and cell phone records placing Luyster at the scene. Breanne Leigh, the surviving victim, never wavered in identifying him as the shooter, even while recovering from her wounds. Smith emphasized Luyster’s mounting stress from a pending federal case and his erratic, intoxicated state that night — but argued his actions were deliberate, not impulsive. The jury agreed, finding aggravating factors that make Luyster eligible for life without parole.
