A Loveland man, Oscar Perez Jr., has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for his involvement in a tragic carjacking that turned deadly in 2023. Perez was one of two gunmen in the incident and pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder as part of a deal with prosecutors.
The sentencing stems from the death of 18-year-old Nasier Graham, who was killed during the carjacking attempt. Perez also received two 20-year sentences for shooting at Graham’s friends, but those sentences will run at the same time as his 40-year term.
On the day of the sentencing, the courtroom was filled with Graham’s family and friends, showing just how much he meant to those who knew him. Isaiah Bazaldua, one of his closest friends, described Nasier as a great person, adding that it was rare to see so many supporters in a court case.
The events unfolded in January 2023, when Perez and two other teens were driving around Loveland in a stolen pickup truck, looking for a car to steal. According to investigators, the group had been drinking alcohol and using cocaine before the crime. Surveillance footage showed them roaming the area until they found their target.
The violence occurred near a home where Graham’s grandmother, Yvonne Brooks, was inside. She recounted the heartbreaking moment she heard gunshots, ran outside, and saw her grandson’s boots. She called the killing of her grandson “disgusting” and expressed deep pain over the loss.
Perez was armed with a rifle and fired at least 10 shots at Graham. As Graham’s two teenage friends tried to escape, Perez continued shooting, hitting one of them in the arm. That friend survived but suffered significant injuries.
The other teen involved in the carjacking, Vincent Zamora, had already been sentenced to 40 years for his role in the crime. Zamora was armed with a shotgun during the incident.
During the sentencing, Judge Daniel McDonald didn’t hold back his feelings, calling the murder “cold-blooded” and one of the most disturbing cases he’s ever handled. He compared Graham and Perez as two kinds of leaders—Graham brought people together in a positive way, while Perez led others into a life of crime. The judge expressed disbelief at Perez’s actions, calling them “absolutely reprehensible.”
Perez and his father addressed the court, both offering apologies to Graham’s family. Perez’s father said he wished he could trade places with Graham and admitted he didn’t know where he went wrong in raising his son. Perez himself said he lies awake at night in his jail cell, wishing he could undo what happened. He claimed he never meant to kill anyone and called his actions the mistake of a “young and dumb kid.”
However, Judge McDonald questioned whether Perez’s remorse was genuine, pointing out that he fired 17 shots at the teens just to steal a car worth $3,000. The judge described Perez as a “violent and dangerous, cold-blooded murderer.”
As Perez was taken away in shackles, wearing a sweater vest and dress shirt, Graham’s family expressed relief that justice had been served. Graham’s sister said they can now move forward and focus on celebrating his life instead of grieving.
Lexi Hensley, Graham’s girlfriend, echoed the sentiment, saying, “The demons are gone. We can now celebrate the life he got to live.”
