Shooting at party kills one

Conflict over unwelcome guests at a northwest Las Vegas house party erupted in gunfire Sunday, leaving one man dead and five others wounded.

The 20-year-old who was fatally shot in the chest was not identified by police Sunday. A suspect whose name was not released was arrested in connection with the shootings, which occurred on the 8300 block of Spring Arts Avenue, near the intersection of Alexander Road and Durango Drive.

Police said five other young people, including a 14-year-old, were shot while sitting in a car outside the house, but their wounds were not life-threatening.

Neighbors said the shooting suspect and the deceased were recent graduates of Cimarron-Memorial High School, between the ages of 19 and 20. The two were known to be friends, and neighbors said the dead victim was not the intended target.

"That's the grapevine," said a woman, who said she went to high school with the shooting suspect and the deceased.

The Metropolitan Police Department did not release the house address, but several neighbors identified the party location as a two-story stucco home at 8332 Spring Arts Ave. Several cars were parked on the street Sunday afternoon. Shattered glass littered the cul de sac.

Trouble began shortly after midnight Sunday when a car full of teens and young adults tried to crash a party where they were not wanted, police Lt. Lew Roberts said.

The shooting suspect came out of the house and opened fire, police said.

A 20-year-old man standing in front of the house was hit in the chest and died after being taken to MountainView Hospital.

Teens in the car were hit multiple times by gunfire, but they managed to drive to an Albertsons at Cheyenne Avenue and Cimarron Road, where they got help. They were taken to University Medical Center.

The home identified by neighbors as the scene of the shooting belongs to Nidhal Shamoun, according to Clark County property records. No one responded to calls to the home and knocks on the door. Neighbors described the family as "very sweet."

The sound of gunfire and screeching tires prompted neighbors to gather on the street in their pajamas after the shooting.

"All of a sudden I heard cars screeching down the road," said Steve Polsky, a neighbor. "We've never had problems. We've been here since 2000. It's been a good block." Polsky said his young neighbors' lives were a mystery to him.

"Their parties probably start when I go to sleep," he said.

The shooting echoes an outburst of youth violence earlier this summer, when two teenagers were fatally shot in a drive-by at Bob Baskin Park. The incident was rooted in a fight that started at a June 8 house party in southwest Las Vegas, after one group of girls gave another group of girls a dirty look.

David Miramontes, 18, died at the park. Chris Luscombe, 19, a recent graduate of Clark High School, lingered for 18 days before dying at University Medical Center.

Authorities said Jessie James Cole, 21, fired the shots at the park after two groups of girls fought at a house party. Cole faces murder charges in District Court.

Contact reporter James Haug at jhaug @reviewjournal.com or 702-799-2922.