Vigil held for man killed in North Las Vegas shooting
About 50 teens gathered on Wednesday night for a candlelight vigil in memory of the 18-year-old who was shot and killed Tuesday night in North Las Vegas.
Roland Pleasant, 18, was gunned down next to a Ford Focus on Tuesday shortly before 7 p.m. at Tropical Parkway and Shark Water Bay Street, near Lawrence Street. He was pronounced dead at University Medical Center a short while after, North Las Vegas police said.
Few details were provided by police on Wednesday, but investigators believe the shooter and Pleasant knew each other. Police also said the shooting was not random or gang-related. Pleasant’s friends at the vigil said that he was not confrontational or involved in gangs.
Two people police said were connected to the shooting were questioned by detectives. No arrests have been made, and detectives have not released a description of the shooter.
Pleasant’s shooting is not related to an earlier Tuesday shooting in North Las Vegas that left four people wounded, police spokesman officer Steven Wiese said Wednesday evening. That shooting remains under investigation.
People at the vigil gathered around a park canopy in a North Las Vegas park at East Azure Avenue and Terrasol Street, near North Pecos Road.
Candles flickered around photos of Pleasant on the park table. Some of the candles were aligned to spell “RIP.” Teens signed a poster board with “we love you.”
Hali Tripplett, 18, lit candles and stood quietly in front of the bench for several minutes. She tearfully explained that she met Pleasant through her boyfriend, who was Pleasant’s close friend, about a year ago.
“He was a go-getter,” who was easily approachable and made those he just met comfortable, she said. “He touched everybody.”
When she saw Pleasant for the last time on Monday night, she recalled what he told her boyfriend.
“Y’all be safe. I see your girl is tired — go home,” Tripplett said. “And he told my boyfriend he loved him and those were his last words (to us).”
Marijuana smoke wafted on the chilled air, and friends spoke about Pleasant’s love for pot. References to marijuana also were made on Pleasant’s Facebook page. “Smoke more then Redman,” one of his last posts on Sunday read.
Pleasant was an “awesome spirit,” Rae-vn Lambey, 18, said. “He loved everybody, everybody loved him. He was sweet and funny. I loved him so much and I hate to see him go.”
Anyone with information should contact North Las Vegas police at 702-633-9111, or to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555.
Review-Journal writer Cassandra Taloma contributed to this report. Contact Ricardo Torres at rtorres@reviewjournal.com and 702-383-0381. Find him on Twitter: @rickytwrites. Contact reporter Kimberly De La Cruz at 702-383-0381, kdelacruz@reviewjournal.com or on Twitter @KimberlyinLV.
