Second arrest made

Las Vegas police arrested on Tuesday a second suspect in connection with last week's fatal drive-by shooting near Palo Verde High School, the same day the suspected gunman made his first court appearance.

Detectives arrested 19-year-old Ezekiel Williams about 6:30 p.m. on one count of accessory to murder and three counts of accessory to attempted murder, police said.

Williams was driving the car when the gunfire began, police said.

"There are multiple facts and circumstances that need to be sorted out in this tragic incident," said Brent Bryson, Williams' lawyer. "We certainly don't want to rush to judgment until all the facts are in."

The arrest was the second in the Friday shooting that killed Palo Verde freshman Christopher Privett, who was shot in the chest as he walked home after school.

Police have said they don't know what prompted the shooting.

On Tuesday morning, the 16-year-old Palo Verde student charged with pulling the trigger appeared in court during a brief hearing before Family Court Judge William Voy.

Wearing an orange sweatshirt, navy blue pants and with handcuffs shackled to his waist, Gerald Quashawn Davison stood quietly during the hearing, at times closing his eyes and gently shaking his head.

His father, identified in child support papers as Gerald Lamont Davison, held his son's hand throughout the hearing and talked more than his son's court-appointed lawyer.

"The plea is not guilty. He didn't do it," Gerald Lamont Davison blurted.

He also asked the judge if his son could remain at the juvenile detention center after he is charged as an adult. That's up to the Las Vegas justice of the peace who gets the case, Voy replied.

Under Nevada law juveniles charged with murder or attempted murder are automatically tried as adults.

However, prosecutors must file paperwork to be signed by Voy before the case is transferred to Las Vegas Justice Court.

District Attorney David Roger said he expected the paperwork to be finalized today.

When Tuesday's hearing came to an end, tears rolled down Gerald Quashawn Davison's cheeks as his tearful father and mother, Shanna Morris, hugged him.

The eight other relatives who sat through the hearing also left in tears. Afterward most of them hurried to their cars and avoided reporters, but some stopped and spoke briefly.

"He wasn't raised like that, but we don't know what these kids face," said a woman who identified herself as the boy's aunt.

The interview abruptly ended when a man jumped in front of reporters and herded the relatives toward the parking lot.

According to Family Court documents, Gerald Lamont Davison has been ordered to pay child support since his son was under 1 year old. He worked as a cook for various restaurants through the 1990s while paying $160 a month.

In 2001, while he worked in the University Medical Center cafeteria, his payments were increased to $299.

Both parents have minor criminal records with Las Vegas police.

Gerald Lamont Davison was arrested in 2005 on a domestic battery charge, and Morris was arrested in 2003 on a charge of obstructing a police officer. The outcome of those cases was not immediately available.

At a Tuesday morning press conference at Palo Verde, Sheriff Doug Gillespie said detectives had no indication that the shooting was provoked.

"It appears right now that this is a random act," he said.

Police had been unable to pinpoint a motive or find the weapon, but they did recover spent shell casings, he said.

At the time, the sheriff said other arrests could come as the investigation proceeds.

"If we determine that we have probable cause for an arrest of those particular individuals then we would make it at that time," Gillespie said.

He also advised parents to be more involved in their children's lives, by talking to them and keeping tabs on their lives.

"It starts in the home," he said, "and this is one of these wake-up calls to all of us who are parents."

Review-Journal reporter Keith Rogers contributed to this report. Contact reporter Brian Haynes at bhaynes@reviewjournal.com or (702) 383-0281.