Police say fatal shooting of teen was self defense, no arrests expected

A teenager shot Monday in northwest Las Vegas has died, according to the Clark County coroner’s office.

Christian John Murphy, 16, of Las Vegas, was shot around 6 a.m. in The Foothills near Flamingo and Fort Apache roads.

He died at 2:38 p.m. at University Medical Center, the coroner’s office ruled.

Metropolitan Police Department Homicide Lt. Ray Spencer said the teen was armed with a gun in the 9600 block of Mariner Village Court when he was involved in an argument. A person walking his dog, and who was also armed, got involved in the argument and the two exchanged gunfire.

Spencer said Tuesday that the shooting is considered self defense and no arrests are expected.

The teen and the person who shot him, a man in his 60s, live near each other, Spencer said. The boy’s cause and manner of death were still pending from the coroner’s office.

In an online fundraiser posted by the boy’s father, Phillip Murphy, he called his son a “special gift” he enjoyed watching grow up.

“The pain of watching your child take their last breath is an unbearable feeling no parent should endure,” Murphy said in the post. “As I held his hand, the memories of his life, laughter, and personality held me tight.”

Contact Sabrina Schnur at sschnur@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0278. Follow @sabrina_schnur on Twitter.