Two Las Vegas women grinned at photographers as they were sentenced in connection with the death of a 101-year-old World War II veteran. 

Kassandra Alvarez and Lorraine Alvarado appeared in court on Wednesday to hear their fate after a 2023 robbery resulted in the death of Herbert Muskin. 

The women crashed into Muskin’s car during a high-speed chase with the Metropolitan Police after robbing a sporting goods store at gunpoint in March 2023, reported KSNV. 

Muskin was admitted to the hospital with a broken neck for a month before succumbing to his injuries. 

At the hearing, the suspects appeared chipper, smiling, laughing and even flashing hand signals at the camera. 

When given the opportunity to speak, Alvarado blamed the police for Muskin’s death.

‘I would like to say that it was the tactics and the brutal, excessive force that the officers used that spiraled the situation out of control,’ she said.

‘A lot of things could have been prevented that night if the high-speed chase would have been called off.’ 

Lorraine Alvarado was seen smiling and flashing hand symbols at the camera during her sentencing on Wednesday in connection with the death of a WWII veteran

Kassandra Alvarez, 32, was driving the vehicle when it crashed into Muskin’s car as she was trying to evade police

Herbert Muskin was a 101-year-old World War II veteran and a dentist who was killed in the crash

Alvarado admitted to robbery, resisting an officer and assault on a protected person with a deadly weapon, reported the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Prosecutors said the 34-year-old pointed her gun at an officer after police shot at her. 

Alvarez, 32, who was driving the vehicle, pleaded guilty in January to robbery with a deadly weapon, reckless driving resulting in substantial bodily harm and stop required on signal of a police officer. 

Alvarez’s attorney, Karen Connolly, argued that Muskin should have received an autopsy to determine his cause of death.

Muskin’s death certificate lists global geriatric decline and aspiration pneumonia as complications of blunt force injuries. 

His wife, Sherry, was also in the car at the time and sustained some injuries. She died from unrelated complications last year.

The couple was on their way home from Costco when they were caught in the tragic accident. 

They were married for 67 years and moved to Las Vegas after retirement.  

Muskin’s family sued Las Vegas Police, alleging that responding officers Justin Garcia and Jacob Barr’s negligence led to the veteran’s death.

Alvarado pleaded guilty to charges of robbery, resisting an officer and assault on a protected person with a deadly weapon

Alvarez pleaded guilty to robbery with a deadly weapon, reckless driving resulting in substantial bodily harm and stop required on signal of a police officer

Herbert Muskin in the hospital after the crash, prior to his passing with his wife Sherry

According to a civil complaint, Garcia and Barr chased Alvarez and Alvarado across the Las Vegas Valley at speeds over 100mph. 

The officers countersued Alvarez and Alvarado, claiming Muskin’s injuries and subsequent death were their fault. 

Both women were indicted on murder charges, but the defense rebuked them.

‘I did not murder no one,’ Alvarado said. ‘But I know I hurt their family.’ 

District Judge Michelle Leavitt refused to dismiss the charges.

Alvarez was sentenced to 10 to 30 years in prison. Alvarado was ordered to serve 14 to 40 years in prison.

Alvarez apologized to Muskin’s family at the hearing.  

‘I pray that you may have peace and forgiveness in your hearts and may you leave here with lighter spirits,’ she said. 

‘Today, I want to take accountability for my actions and, with this sentence, right my wrongs with dignity and respect.’

The women pleaded guilty to robbery after stealing from a Las Vegas merchandise store before leading cops on a high speed chase

Alvarado blamed police for Muskin’s death. ‘I did not murder no one,’ she said. ‘But I know I hurt their family’

The victims’ sons, Jon and Drew, addressed the women in court. 

‘My father, even at 101 years old, was my mother’s caretaker,’ Jon said. 

‘He was the one who looked after her, drove her, kept their life together. When these defendants took him, they didn’t just take her husband; they took the person she depended on to live.’

Drew said his father, a retired dentist, was ‘exceptionally likable’.

‘I hope that [the defendants] are not given another opportunity to inflict further harm onto others,’ he said. 

The Daily Mail contacted the Metropolitan Police Department and the defense for comment.