Suspect arrested in boy’s shooting

Las Vegas police on Tuesday arrested a 22-year-old man wanted in connection with a drive-by shooting that left a boy in critical condition.

Carlos Reyes was arrested on multiple charges, including two counts of attempted murder and five counts of child endangerment. Two other men, including the driver of the car, have been identified by police, Lt. Dan McGrath said.

The shooting in a northeast valley neighborhood was not gang-related, as investigators originally believed, McGrath said.

"It was due to a $200 drug deal where a debt was owed," he said.

The 8-year-old boy was with his 13-year-old sister and their three younger siblings and had just crossed the street when multiple shots were fired from a car. The intended target was another car at the intersection of Kell Lane and Marion Drive, near Lake Mead and Lamb boulevards.

Neither of the two people in that car were injured. But the boy was struck in the chest, and the bullet lodged in his shoulder. He is expected to survive but is facing "numerous surgeries" in the future, McGrath said.

His name was not released.

McGrath credited Reyes' arrest to members of the community who came forward with information. Some of them knew the suspects and were afraid because of the suspects' criminal pasts, McGrath said. Reyes has served time in prison for burglary and in 2006 faced a charge of assault with a deadly weapon that was dismissed, court records show.

The arrest came eight days after police and community activists gathered in the neighborhood to denounce the shooting, the third gun-related injury or death involving a child in less than a month.

Troy Martinez, a pastor at East Vegas Christian Center and coordinator of the Safe Valley United program, said he didn't know if the program helped lead to the arrests, but it helped ease the fears of those in the community.

"All the neighbors were saying they wouldn't even let their children out in the street that day without us out there," Martinez said. "We don't want children being afraid to go play in the neighborhood because they're afraid of being shot. It's insane."

McGrath said the fact that witnesses overcame their fears at coming forward sent a message to criminals: "We're tired of the violence in the community, and when we see it, community members are going to come forward."

Contact reporter Lawrence Mower at lmower@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0440.