Teen identified in fatal stabbing in southeast valley

A teenager who was fatally stabbed Tuesday night in the southeast valley was identified by the Clark County coroner's office Thursday as 16-year-old Trevion Alexander.

Alexander, of Las Vegas, died from wounds to his chest and abdomen, the coroner's office said.

Charles Bernard Smith, 19, was booked into the Clark County Detention Center on Wednesday in connection with the slaying on recommended charges of murder with a deadly weapon and probation violation.

Police said that at 10:16 p.m. they responded to the 5500 block of Boulder Highway, near Tropicana Avenue, on a call of a stabbing. Upon arrival, they found Alexander. He died later at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center.

Police said a fight between two groups led to the stabbing.

According to a police report, when police found Smith, he had blood on his hands and clothes.

The report said Smith was identified by multiple people as the person who stabbed Alexander. Video surveillance of a nearby business showed footage of what appeared to be Smith punching Alexander in the midsection, it said.

Smith told police he had been in a fight with several people and had been hit and kicked several times. He told police he stabbed the person who was attacking him out of fear, the report said.

Smith voluntarily gave up a sample of his DNA.

Homicide Lt. Lew Roberts said that the fight might have included some gang members but that it was not a gang-motivated slaying. He said Smith's claim of self-defense is being investigated, but the Clark County district attorney's office will decide how to proceed with the case.

Contact reporter Antonio Planas at aplanas@review journal.com or 702-383-4638.