Coroner IDs man shot outside Chuck E. Cheese’s restaurant

By Rich Coleman

Published Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2010 | 10:42 p.m.

Updated Thursday, Dec. 16, 2010 | 3:57 p.m.

The Clark County Coroner’s Office identified a 26-year-old man who attended a child's birthday party and was shot to death Wednesday night outside a Chuck E. Cheese’s pizza shop as Lance Moorehead of Las Vegas.

The shooting occurred about 9 p.m. in the parking lot of the restaurant at 350 N. Nellis Blvd., police said. Moorehead died of perforating gunshot wounds to the back, the coroner’s office said.

Lt. Lew Roberts said the shooting may have stemmed from a disturbance that occurred inside the establishment. Police found multiple shell casings throughout the parking lot and said a running gun battle was possible.

Police said a group of people, including Moorehead, became involved in an altercation as they were leaving the restaurant, during which time the suspect fired multiple rounds and struck the victim.

Moorehead was taken to University Medical Center, where he died, police said.

Police said the suspect, who they described as a heavy-set black man wearing a blue shirt, fled eastbound on Stewart Avenue in a white, four-door sedan.

Authorities believe another car may have been struck by gunfire and left the scene before officers arrived because police found portions of a heavily tinted car window in the parking lot.

"Nothing surprises me anymore. It's bad in the sense that this is a kid's place, but am I shocked by it? No, I'm not," Roberts said. "This area's had shootings in the past. We're hoping to have some answers at a later time."

Police ask anyone with information about the shooting to contact Metro's homicide section at (702) 828-3521 or, to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at (702) 385-5555 or visit www.crimestoppersofnv.com.

Sun reporter Jackie Valley contributed to this report.