Man shot and killed near park full of kids, police say

Police were investigating the daylight shooting death of a male near a park full of kids in the east Las Vegas Valley on Friday.

Officers were dispatched to a shooting at Grass Meadows Drive and Tree Line Drive, which is steps away from Lewis Family Park, at about 4:22 p.m., Metropolitan Police Department Lt. Jason Johansson said in a news briefing at the park Friday night.

While searching the area, officers found a male lying near the driver’s door of a parked car on Fieldmouse Avenue, a nearby street adjacent to the park, Johannson said.

The male 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,” Johansson said.

While investigating the violence, Johannson said, officers were approached by a witness who said two males wearing dark clothing and ski masks ran from where the shooting occurred and into a nearby apartment.

Officers secured the building where the apartment is located. After about 20 minutes, during which police were trying to contact the residents there, Johansson said, two males came out. Police took them into custody.

Johannson said that a preliminary investigation suggested that the males 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 ages of the males arrested, he said that one was in his 20s and the other was a teenager.

The Clark County coroner’s office will release the name of the person who was fatally shot 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,” he said.

Contact Akiya Dillon at adillon@reviewjournal.com.