Man who killed cousin inside Las Vegas Strip hotel could serve rest of life in prison

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — The man who killed his cousin inside the Mirage hotel on the Las Vegas Strip, who had attempted to kill the same man 20 years ago, could serve the rest of his life in prison.

Billy Hemsley, 56, accepted a plea deal Tuesday in the August 2022 shooting death of Aucturius Milner, 49. Police arrested Hemsley about six hours after the murder at a bus stop near Nellis Boulevard and Twain Avenue.

Milner and Hemsley were “play fighting” in a Mirage hotel room when Hemsley pulled out a gun and fired toward Milner, police said. Hemsley later told officers he shot his cousin when he was choking him.

Police said they found Milner, lying on the floor of the hotel room, suffering from several gunshot wounds. Two women, Milner’s daughter and her girlfriend, were also injured and taken to the hospital, police said.

Court records show Hemsley shot a person with the same name as Milner in 2003, the 8 News Now Investigators first reported. Milner survived the shooting. A family member confirmed that the Milner killed in 2022 was the same one Hemsley shot nearly two decades ago.

Hemsley agreed to plead guilty Tuesday to one count of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder, documents said. As part of the deal, a judge could sentence him to 80 years in prison. He would be eligible for parole after 25 years, which means with credit for time served, he would be well into his 80s.

Hemsley’s sentencing was scheduled for April 2. Hemsley was already serving time in prison on felony DUI charges.

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