Corey Deleon Police say investigation into teen began with August shooting between rival graffiti gangs

An 18-year-old suspected of spray painting graffiti on freeway walls, houses and businesses in the Las Vegas Valley for at least four years was arrested Thursday.

Las Vegas police arrested Corey Deleon and booked him into the Clark County Detention Center on nine charges of "placing graffiti or defacing property."

"This was not just 'Johnny loves Suzie" written on a park bench. He was part of an organized group," said Russell Davis, chairman of the Southern Nevada Graffiti Coalition, a group of local city and law enforcement officials.

Deleon is being held on $200,000 in bail, and more charges might be pending, police said.

Deleon even is suspected of "tagging" a building in Baker, Calif., near what is billed as the world's largest thermometer, Davis said.

"He's what we consider 'all-city,'" Davis said. "He's responsible for a lot -- a great deal of damage."

The investigation into Deleon stems from an August shooting at a local strip mall involving two rival graffiti gangs, Davis said. One juvenile was shot in that incident, but no one was killed.

Deleon was not the triggerman but was present at the shooting, police said.

Las Vegas police estimate that graffiti vandalism causes millions of dollars in damage annually and leads to other crimes.