Las Vegas Man Sentenced for Shooting Roommate in the Back After Taking Over Their Home’s Lease

A dispute over who had to move out of a shared home ended in a fatal shooting in Las Vegas, leaving one family without a son and another man facing years behind bars. Antoine Cloutier, 49, was sentenced to six to 15 years in prison on November 4, 2026, for the 2021 killing of Rafael Ampier Jr., 44. The shooting happened after Ampier took over the lease of the property and told Cloutier and his family they needed to leave.

At the time, several people were living in the home on Montcliff Avenue, including Cloutier, his wife and their child, as well as Ampier and his girlfriend. Ampier had negotiated with the property owner to take over the lease. According to witness testimony, he eventually told Cloutier that he and his family had to move out. Despite being given time to leave, Cloutier and his family were reportedly still living there when the confrontation occurred in September 2021.

The disagreement escalated into a physical fight inside the home’s garage. During the altercation, the two men struggled over a knife before Cloutier pulled out a firearm and shot Ampier. The victim was struck in the back of the chest, suffering a fatal wound. A medical examiner later confirmed the location of the gunshot wound. Ampier’s death left his family devastated, while the case remained in the criminal justice system for nearly five years.

In July 2026, Cloutier entered an Alford plea to voluntary manslaughter with the use of a deadly weapon. This type of plea allows a defendant to accept a conviction while maintaining that they did not commit the crime, acknowledging that prosecutors have enough evidence to secure a conviction. At sentencing, Cloutier’s attorney argued that the gun went off during an ongoing fight and asked the judge to grant probation instead of prison time. Cloutier also expressed sorrow for the loss and said he would live with the consequences of the tragedy.

The judge rejected the request for probation and sentenced Cloutier to six to 15 years in prison. Ampier’s mother, Delfina Razo, spoke about the lasting pain of losing her son, telling the court that he did not deserve to be shot in the back. His sister, Jacqueline Ampier, remembered him as a caring person who helped family and friends and served as a role model. Their statements reflected the loss of a man whose life was cut short during a dispute over a place to live.

What began as a disagreement about moving out of a shared home ended with a fatal gunshot and years of legal proceedings. The sentence brings a major step in the case, but it cannot undo the loss suffered by Ampier’s loved ones. Cloutier will now serve his prison term for the shooting that took place more than five years ago.

Source: Law&Crime