LAS VEGAS — A Las Vegas woman with a documented fascination with firearms was sentenced Tuesday to a minimum of five years to life in prison for fatally shooting a friend during a late-night photo shoot.

Allysandra Blea, who was 20 at the time of the incident, was sentenced by Judge Jacqueline Bluth in Clark County District Court on July 28, 2026. She had pleaded guilty in June to first-degree kidnapping and involuntary manslaughter in the August 2025 death of Mark Gaughan, 23.

According to authorities, the shooting occurred in the early morning hours of Aug. 23, 2025, at a home near Washington Avenue and Decatur Boulevard. Gaughan was photographing Blea and another woman as they posed with a gun and a knife. Blea pointed the firearm at Gaughan and fired, striking him in the neck and killing him. Polaroid photos recovered at the scene showed Blea holding a gun and another person holding a knife.

Blea told detectives the shooting was accidental and that she did not know the gun had a live round in the chamber. However, investigators noted her strong interest in firearms. Social media posts and messages attributed to her included comments such as “I wish I could shoot people with real guns and get away with it.” A witness later indicated Blea was upset that Gaughan referred to her as his girlfriend.

During the sentencing hearing, Gaughan’s mother, Caroline Gaughan, delivered an emotional victim impact statement. She described learning of her son’s death through a coroner’s voicemail and waiting more than 24 hours for official police notification. She told the court that Blea had spent time at her home and knew her contact information. “Now, my son will be forever 23,” she said.

Blea did not speak during the hearing. The judge approved the plea agreement, noting that it avoided the risks of a trial for both sides. The sentences for the two charges will run concurrently. Blea was also ordered to pay restitution, including funeral expenses totaling more than $16,000.

Prosecutors had agreed to recommend the five-years-to-life term as part of the plea deal. The case drew attention because of Blea’s documented interest in guns prior to the fatal photo session.

Sources

• FOX5 Las Vegas,