A 16-year-old boy was shot dead Thursday night in an East Valley park, Las Vegas police said.
The teenager was shot dead after a brawl around 7:30 p.m. near Lewis Family Park, near East Charleston Boulevard and Tree Line Drive, according to the Metropolitan Police Department. Police responded to reports of a fight between two groups of young men and found the 16-year-old lying on the street in the 6400 block of American Beauty Avenue.
“Young people with guns and senseless violence; things that shouldn’t happen, â€said homicide lieutenant Dan McGrath.
The deceased and another teenager got into an argument with two other young men, leading to a brawl, McGrath said Thursday evening. The brawl then spread to a street near the park, where one or two shots were fired, he said.
The teenager who was with the boy remained at the scene but initially did not cooperate with the arriving officers, McGrath said. He was with homicide detectives Thursday night.
“We think he’s going to be a key part of this investigation,†McGrath said.
Police said on Friday they believed the 16-year-old boy had exchanged gunfire with one of the two people he was fighting. Metro said drugs may have played a role in the murder.
They said the other two appeared to be young men between the ages of 16 and 18. Metro said they fled in a car described as a small black or dark blue Toyota or Honda with black rims and a noisy exhaust.
Two handguns were found at the scene, and police believe a third handgun may be with those who fled.
Police were checking neighboring houses for security footage.
Las Vegas city commissioners told police they had had problems with groups of young people coming to fight in the park, McGrath said.
The Clark County Coroner’s Office will release the identity of the 16-year-old once his family is informed.
Metro urged anyone with information about the shooting to call homicide detectives at 702-828-3521 or 702-385-5555 to remain anonymous.
Contact Mike Shoro at [email protected] or 702-387-5290. To follow @mike_shoro on Twitter.
