2 suspected gang members indicted in Henderson mall shooting

By Brian Nordli

Saturday, Aug. 10, 2013 | midnight

Two men suspected in a gang shooting at Galleria at Sunset mall in Henderson were indicted Friday by the Clark County Grand Jury on 15 total charges including attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

Marquell Dwayne Scott and Ellis Banks are suspected of firing 12 shots at Lionel Bowen, who is believed to be a member of a rival gang, in January at the Galleria parking lot. Bowen was shot once in the elbow.

Police believe the shooting stemmed from an ongoing feud between rival gang members, with Scott and Banks members of a local Bloods gang and Bowen a member of a local Crips gang.

A Henderson Police arrest report indicates the following:

Mall surveillance video showed Banks and Scott were at the mall when they noticed Bowen. Scott and Bowen and their associates had been involved in numerous violent encounters over the years.

The incidents included a fight at the Eastside Cannery in 2009, a shooting at the Silver Miner's Casino and a shooting and death of a Bloods gang member in 2011 at Déjà Vu strip club.

After noticing Bowen, Banks and Scott chased him past a Macy’s to the exit near Chevy’s and into the parking lot where they fired 12 shots at him, striking him once.

Three days later, Henderson dispatch received a call from an anonymous person who claimed the shooter was "Qwell," a common nickname used by Scott.

Henderson Police later found a handgun inside Scott’s mother’s home that matched the shell casings found at the scene, according to forensic testing.

Henderson Police arrested Banks on Thursday and Scott on July 24.

Banks and Scott were both charged with one count each of conspiracy to commit murder with the intent to promote further, or assist a criminal gang, attempted murder with use of a deadly weapon to promote, further or assist a criminal gang, and battery with use of a deadly weapon resulting in substantial bodily harm with intent to promote, further or assist a criminal gang.

They were charged with four counts of discharging a firearm at or into a vehicle with intent to promote, further or assist a criminal gang, and one count each of possession of a stolen firearm with intent to promote, further or assist a criminal gang.

Banks and Scott also received one count each of accessory to a felony with intent to promote, further or assist a criminal gang and possession of a firearm by an ex-felon.