Security guard arrested in teen’s death

A security guard, who was working at a party where a 17-year-old was shot to death last month, was arrested in connection with the homicide on Thursday.

Yauder Martinez-Rodriguez, 24, told Las Vegas police he fired his handgun once into the air, above a group of males where several shots had been fired on Sept. 17, according to the arrest report.

Martin Jefferson Jr. was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head at the scene, a parking lot outside the Oasis Banquet Hall near East Sunset and Sandhill roads.

An autopsy and forensic investigation later matched the bullet to Martinez-Rodriguez's gun, and he was booked on a count of murder with a deadly weapon, the arrest report said.

Witnesses statements said security guards had escorted several females out of the banquet hall for fighting, and handcuffed the women in the parking lot just before 2 a.m. As people started leaving the event, a group of males appearing to be angry at the security guards, gathered in the lot and one of the men fired a handgun in the air several times, according to witness statements in the arrest report.

Martinez-Rodriguez, about 50 feet from the group, drew his handgun and fired once into the air, the arrest report said.

Contact Jessica Fryman at jfryman@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0264.