NLV police: Case of shooting death of infant in car a top priority

By Ricardo Torres-Cortez

Thursday, April 6, 2017 | 7:35 p.m.

As the North Las Vegas community mourns the death of a newborn baby shot dead in a car full of passengers, city police are working “around the clock” to identify a suspect and make an arrest.

On Thursday, local officials and clergy joined a roundtable event at Las Vegas City Hall, where they discussed the case and brainstormed how to move forward, prevent retaliation and spread a message of peace, police spokesman Aaron Patty said.

“The last thing that we want is there to be more bloodshed over this,” Patty said.

The blood first spilled about 9:15 p.m. Saturday in a north valley apartment complex, police said.

Officers responded to reports of gunshots in the 2600 block of East Deer Springs Way, near Losee Road, south of the 215 Beltway, police said. About five minutes later, they were redirected to a crash on Craig Road and N. 5th St.

In the car, they found 25-day-old Marcus Cleveland Thomas Jr. and his 22-year-old father with gunshot wounds, police said. It was later determined that they were shot at the complex by at least one suspect.

It wasn't clear to detectives if the suspect — or suspects — were on foot or in a vehicle at the time they fled the scene, police said.

Father and son were rushed to the hospital, where the infant died; his father survived.

Also inside the car were the driver, a 19-year-old woman; a 4-year-old boy, and a 2-year-old girl, police said. No other injuries were reported.

Police have said they don't believe the shooting preceded a random act of violence or road rage.

Detectives on Thursday continued to piece evidence together and gather information to try to identify those connected to the shooting, Patty said.

The case is an "absolute high priority" for the agency, "if not probably our highest," Patty said. Detectives were making door-to-door contacts, but police are imploring those who may have information to come forward, he added.

"We know people have information on this case, we just need them to come forward and speak to us," Patty said. "We're hopeful that a deceased child is motivation enough for people to do the right thing."

"This tragedy has undoubtedly impacted the community," North Las Vegas police Chief Alex Perez said in a statement.

Anyone with information can contact police at 702-633-911. Anonymous tipsters can contact Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555 or crimestoppersofnv.com.