Another arrested in May fatal gang shooting
Metro arrested a fourth person on Saturday in connection with what they said was a gang-related shooting that left a 24-year-old man dead, Clark County Detention Center logs show.
Jeiszon Valles, 21, is facing a first-degree murder charge, jail logs show.
Richard Najera was shot and killed in the 2900 block of Fremont Street, near Oakey Boulevard late at night on May 29, Las Vegas police said.
Minutes after the shooting, Metro followed a Honda Accord with five occupants witnesses said was connected to the shooting, according to an arrest record. The car was abandoned in a nearby neighborhood but officers found the driver, Yors “Cuete” Garcia-Mier, 18, and Nicholas Pedro “Silent” Cortes, 17, hiding a short time after.
There was blood in and around the car, police said. Garcia-Mier was arrested and booked at CCDC, but Cortes was released pending an investigation.
It wasn’t until Tuesday when police were questioning Miguel “Trips” Salazar on an unrelated case that Cortes walked up to him and both were arrested on juvenile warrants, police said. Salazar’s age wasn’t released.
After detectives questioned Cortes and Salazar, they were booked Wednesday on one count each of second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, robbery and conspiracy to commit a robbery. Metro arrest records specified their charges also are gang related. Garcia-Mier is facing identical charges.
Police said that the trio were affiliated with the Youths Taking Kontrol gang, also known as “YTK,” and were driving around when Garcia-Mier recognized Najera as being affiliated with the Barrio Naked City gang. The group got out of the car and assaulted Najera, according to arrest records. Two other people were with them.
The trio returned to the area a second time with men only described as being named “Lucky” and “Smiley,” police said.
Lucky and Smiley got out of the car and hit Najera before shooting him, the teens told police.
It wasn’t immediately clear if Valles is affiliated by either alias. Valles was booked without bail and is scheduled to appear in court Monday morning.
No other arrests have been announced in connection with Najera’s death.
Contact Ricardo Torres at rtorres@reviewjournal.com and 702-383-0381. Find him on Twitter: @rickytwrites.
