Tragedy struck at Sacramento’s Capitol Casino on a fateful day in August 2022 when a brazen robbery ended in the death of a young security guard named Sean Bernal. The 27-year-old was performing his duties at the renowned card club when the harrowing incident unfolded.
According to court reports, 38-year-old Dawan Pecot tried to rob the casino, leveraging his presence in a place pulsing with adrenaline and high stakes. Pecot, armed and determined, was escorted outside by Bernal, who was armed only with a taser. Despite the imminent threat to his own life, Bernal’s courage did not waver as he aimed to protect those inside.
Outside the casino, in a grim twist, Pecot drew a firearm and forced Bernal to accompany him back into the establishment. Once there, Pecot advanced on the cashier’s cage, gun aimed at an unsuspecting employee. In a split-second decision, Bernal discharged his taser in an attempt to neutralize the assailant. It was then that Pecot discharged his firearm, striking Bernal fatally in the neck.
As chaos ensued, Pecot’s greed drove him to snatch over $38,000 before attempting his escape. He was momentarily hidden within his own vehicle when casino employees and law enforcement swiftly converged on the scene. Despite firing another shot, this time towards a brave casino employee, Pecot’s fleeting taste of freedom was thwarted by police. They tackled and arrested him, but too late for Bernal, whose efforts were valiant but whose life was cruelly cut short.
The aftermath left the heartbroken Bernal family to mourn a man they described as a hero; a man whose love for his job was only surpassed by his instinct to protect. Sean was a father to a young daughter, all of one-year-old, who must now navigate life without her champion. During an emotional interview with a local news station, Susan Bernal poignantly reflected on her son’s final moments, torn between pride for his bravery and despair for his loss.
In the wake of this calamity, Dawan Pecot was convicted of first-degree murder. He now faces the grim prospect of life behind bars with no chance of parole, his sentencing date set for January 12, 2024.
This lamentable incident isn’t an isolated event in the Capitol Casino’s recent history, which has seen its share of violence over the past decade, including the death of a casino worker in 2016 and the loss of Renee Walker in 2021, both in shootings related to the establishment.
The every-day thrills of casino gaming are tinged with these somber tales, reminders of the risks faced by those who steward the world of chance and fortune. Speaking of which, for those who seek the excitement of the casino but prefer the safety and comfort of their own homes, the staff here at West Island Blog have curated a list of the top online casinos for this month. Whether you enjoy the spin of the roulette wheel or the shrewd strategy of blackjack, you’ll find a place to engage in these spirited games online at our selection of the best online casinos in Canada. We invite you to explore your options, where luck and leisure unite, knowing that you’re in safe hands.
