Reno man gets life in prison for shooting 7-Eleven owner during robbery attempt

RENO, Nev. (News 4 & Fox 11) — A 52-year-old Reno man has been has been sentenced to life in prison after he was convicted of shooting a 7-Eleven store owner during a robbery last March, according to the Washoe County District Attorney's Office.

Kevin Clausen received four concurrent counts of life in prison without parole. Prosecutors sought habitual criminal sentencing in his case, saying he showed callous behavior in the course of the robbery and has a criminal history that spans 30 years.

Clausen was convicted back in October for shooting the owner of the 7-Eleven store on S. Wells Avenue in the head on March 4.

The victim was able to provide a description of the suspect, and an officer with the Washoe County Department of Alternative Sentencing spotted him and followed as he fled the scene in someone's car.

The officer saw the passenger throw evidence out the window as the car sped erratically, and a traffic stop resulted in Clausen's arrest.

The officers was able to find the gun in a trash can a few blocks from the convenience store, according to the D.A.'s office, and bank bags were found at the vehicle stop. The Washoe County Crime Lab determined DNA on the bags and gun matched Clausen's.

The victim identified Clausen as the perpetrator at trial, saying Clausen followed her to her car, demanded money and shot her in the head before she could respond.

Clausen testified at trial that he found a bag in a trash can that had two 7-Eleven money bags, the gun and a concealed weapon holster.

A jury found him guilty on Friday, Oct. 14, on charges of attempted murder with a deadly weapon, robbery with a deadly weapon, and battery with the use of a deadly weapon resulting in substantial injury. He pleaded no contest to a related count of ex-felon in possession of a gun.

Two co-defendants were also convicted in the robbery. David William Coyne, 46, was sentenced to five years in prison on a charge of accessory to robbery. Leslie Ann Ramos, 55, was sentenced to 10 years in prison on a count of robbery.