A Reno man will spend 40 years behind bars for shooting and killing a man outside of an apartment building in Sparks in 2018.

Kareem Abdul Antwon Thomas Jr., 24, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and robbery in November, according to the Washoe County District Attorney’s Office.

He was sentenced on Wednesday and must serve 15 years in prison before he is eligible for parole, officials said in a news release.

On May 11, 2018, Reno police responded to a report of a car crash and robbery. Investigators learned that a woman was driving the suspect, later identified as Thomas, home.

The victim explained she met Thomas through her boyfriend and was driving him home because he was too intoxicated to walk. She then said Thomas punched her and grabbed two of her firearms.

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During the struggle, the car crashed, and Thomas fled the scene with both of her guns.

Three days later, Sparks police responded to a shooting near an apartment complex on Greenbrae Drive. When they arrived at the scene, they found a man who had been shot in the chest.

Investigators learned that the victim and his friend were leaving the complex when another man, Thomas, and a female companion slowly walked in front of their car.

The victim’s friend, who was driving the car, revved the engine. Authorities said Thomas then yelled at the driver.

The driver and victim then passed Thomas and the woman twice more. During the second encounter, Thomas pulled out a gun and shot at the car multiple times, striking the victim on the chest.

The victim’s friend immediately reported the shooting.

Authorities said Thomas got rid of the gun, which was recovered a year later in California in a separate, unrelated investigation.

Investigators have not located the second gun that was previously stolen during the robbery.

The victim’s family and the woman who was robbed of her firearms attended the recent sentencing hearing and read several impact statements.

Marcella Corona is a breaking news reporter who covers crime and justice in Northern Nevada. Support her work by subscribing to RGJ.com.