Man arrested in Thursday’s homicide near downtown Las Vegas

A man was arrested in connection with Thursday night’s homicide in the central Las Vegas Valley near downtown.

Dakuan Thomas, 22, was identified as the suspect in the case and was taken into custody without incident early Friday morning. Thomas was booked into the Clark County Detention Center on one charge of first-degree murder with a deadly weapon, Las Vegas police said.

Metro was dispatched at about 6 p.m. Thursday to 2121 Ballard Drive, near Eastern Avenue and Charleston Boulevard, to investigate a shooting, according to police.

Officers found an adult male with apparent gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

An investigation by Metro’s homicide division indicated that the deceased man and the suspect had a verbal altercation, which escalated when the suspect retrieved a gun and shot the man, police said.

Witnesses said there was yelling, then a fistfight before one person drew a gun on the other, shooting him.

Metro homicide Lt. Dan McGrath said the shooting may have been drug- or gang-related. Police do not believe the man who was shot lived at the apartment complex.

In January, Thomas faced four felony charges — carrying a concealed explosive, gun or dangerous weapon without a permit, changing or obliterating the serial number of a gun, possession of a short-barreled rifle or shotgun, and possession with intent to sell a controlled substance, court records show.

Thomas was charged with felony battery in March and pleaded down to a misdemeanor, court records show.

The Clark County coroner will release the deceased man’s identity will be released once his family has been notified.

Contact Lawren Linehan at llinehan@reviewjournal.com or at 702-383-0381. Find her on Twitter: @lawrenlinehan