Man shot and killed near park full of kids, police say
Police were investigating the broad daylight shooting death of a man near a park full of kids in the east Las Vegas Valley on Friday, a Las Vegas police homicide lieutenant said.
Officers were dispatched to a shooting at Grass Meadows and Treeline Drive, which is steps away from Lewis Family Park, at about 4:22 p.m., Metropolitan Police Department Lt. Jason Johansson said in a press briefing at the park Friday night.
While searching, officers found a man lying near the driver’s door of a parked car on Fieldmouse Avenue, a nearby street adjacent to the park, Johannson explained.
The man was transported to Sunrise Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Johansson said it was fortunate that nobody else was harmed by the gunfire.
“Personally, I feel like we dodged a bullet. This park was filled with kids earlier today,” Johanson said.
While investigating the incident, Johannson said, officers were approached by a witness who said two men wearing dark clothing and ski masks ran from where the shooting occurred and into a nearby apartment building afterward. Officers secured the residence, contacted the people who lived there and convinced the two suspects to come out, Johansson said. Police took them into custody.
Johannson said that a preliminary investigation suggested that the men involved got into a dispute over an illegal marijuana sale. Johannson said investigators were unsure who was “buying” and “selling.”
“We are still in the process of confirming that they are our suspects, but right now, I can tell you that I am fairly confident that there are no outstanding suspects,” Johansson said. Though he would not specify the exact ages of the men arrested, he said that one was in his 20s and the other was a teenager.
The Clark County coroner’s office will release the dead man’s name after his next of kin is notified.
The lieutenant also urged members of the community to come forward with any information about the shooting.
“At 4:22, this park was filled with kids. I only say that because there were many people out here when the shooting happened. I am hoping there are witnesses to what occurred,” Johannson said. “If you live in this area, please take control of your neighborhood and reach out to Crime Stoppers.”
Contact Akiya Dillon at adillon@reviewjournal.com.