Suspect arrested in fatal North Las Vegas Christmas Eve shooting

A 17-year-old suspect in a deadly Christmas Eve shooting in North Las Vegas was arrested Thursday night in Laughlin.

Jermariun Hickman was taken into custody by the FBI-led Las Vegas Criminal Apprehension Team and North Las Vegas Police Department detectives. He was booked about 11 p.m. Thursday into the Clark County Detention Center on one felony count of murder with a deadly weapon in the death of 18-year-old Kwavon’tia Thomas, police spokesman Eric Leavitt said.

Before Thomas’ family provided the spelling of his first name Friday, the Clark County coroner’s office identified the 18-year-old as Kwavontia Thomas.

Hickman was booked as Jermarion Hickman, a different spelling of his first name that Leavitt said is also documented in his criminal history in Las Vegas. Leavitt did not have further details of his criminal record.

Investigators found at least three addresses linked to Hickman, one of which was in Laughlin.

Thomas was shot in a parking lot about 4:45 p.m. Monday near East Lake Mead Boulevard and McDaniel Street. Witnesses saw Thomas running from someone just before the gunfire rang out, police have said. The suspect was then seen jumping a wall and running away.

Thomas died of multiple gunshot wounds after bystanders and officers tried to help him.

Hickman provided little information when interviewed by detectives, Leavitt said, and a motive has not been determined.

Police have determined the two got on the same bus at different stops and then got into an argument. Leavitt declined to say what prompted the argument.

On Friday morning, Leavitt told the Review-Journal that police no longer believed the two knew each other before the argument and shooting, but later he corrected that, saying, “The two actually knew each other pretty well.”

As detectives investigated through Christmas Eve, a woman, standing by at the scene wrapped in a blanket, could be heard repeatedly crying “my baby.”

At a vigil Friday night, dozens of candles surrounded poster boards decorated with pictures and the phrase “Long Live K3,” referencing a childhood nickname given to Kwavon’tia Thomas when his uncle couldn’t pronounce his and his two older brothers’ names, which all start with a “K,” his mother said.

“He has so many family members that loved him,” 39-year-old Timika Thomas said.

Kwavon’tia’s aunt, Jessica Hooper, started a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for funeral expenses. Kwavon’tia Thomas leaves behind four younger siblings and two older brothers, his mother said.

Hickman’s bail has been set at $1 million, court records show.

Contact Rio Lacanlale at rlacanlale@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0381. Follow @riolacanlale on Twitter. Review-Journal staff writer Katelyn Newberg contributed to this report.