Las Vegas Sun

March 19, 2024

Chaparral grad remembered for hard work, character as a person and an athlete

13th Annual Phase 1 Sports Football Camp

Steve Marcus

Richard Nelson, left, of Chaparral, and Tony Fields of Desert Pines take a break during the 13th annual Phase 1 Sports Football Combine and Skills Camp at Faith Lutheran High School Sunday, April 12, 2015. .

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Chaparral football players Casey Acosta, Richard Nelson, Antwain Allen, and Richard Hernandez (front) before the 2015 Season.

Chaparral High graduate Richard Nelson was supposed to be on a flight from Las Vegas back to his hometown of Springfield, Mo., on Saturday night.

The former three-sport star for the Cowboys returned to Las Vegas to see family and friends during winter break and was scheduled to fly back to Missouri State University, where he is on scholarship for football, but his flight was delayed due to inclement weather.

And then the 18-year-old was shot and killed while attempting to break up a fight involving a female family member.

“He died a hero. ... Another hour he would have been checking in at the airport, but instead they were pronouncing him dead,” Bonita Fahy, a family member of Nelson, wrote on Facebook. “He had his whole future, never in any trouble.”

About 7:30 p.m., Nelson went outside a residence near Tropicana Avenue and Boulder Highway to help a family member who was involved in a physical fight, according to Metro Police.

A man shot Nelson multiple times with a handgun before fleeing the scene in a vehicle, police said. Nelson was taken to Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, where he later died.

Nelson graduated from Chaparral in 2016 and received a full-ride scholarship to continue his football career at Missouri State.

“This past week I had some of my ex-students visit with me and we talked about their first semester of college,” Sergio Lopez, a teacher at Chaparral, wrote on Facebook. “One of those students was Richard Nelson. He was so happy and grateful for the opportunities football had given him; he talked about how hard he was practicing and studying. He was ready and determined to continue in his journey and goals he had, which I knew he would accomplish. I told him I was so proud of him, I gave him a hug as we said our goodbyes. I didn’t know it was going to be the last time I would see him.”

At Chaparral, Nelson won a state title in track, led the football team to its best season in 25 years and was a standout on the basketball court.

“I took over the program three years ago when he was a sophomore,” said Chaparral basketball coach Steve Bentz. “When I saw him in the gym I knew we could build a program around him, and not only because of his physical ability. It was because of how competitive he was and how great his work ethic was.”

Nelson helped Chaparral to the playoffs his senior season. The first-round game against Cheyenne was one of Bentz’s most memorable moments with Nelson.

“We were down 10 points and I called a timeout, but Richard took the lead,” Bentz said. “He talked to his players and willed them to win. He was always that way. His teammates are hurting today with this loss.”

On the football field, Nelson carried the ball in the Cowboys’ backfield for three straight years, culminating in one of the biggest wins in team history: a 21-20 playoff victory over heavily favored Faith Lutheran.

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Richard Nelson of Chaparral High faxes his national letter of intent to Missouri State football.

Nelson caught the game’s final touchdown in the last minute to lift Chaparral to its first state semifinals since 1990.

Nelson scored 19 touchdowns as a senior, but as signing day approached, he was without a scholarship and feared he wouldn’t be able to afford college as a walk-on. Nelson was the first in his immediate family to attend college.

“That’s what’s most heartbreaking,” Bentz said. “You never knew any struggles he went through because he never said anything about it or had any excuses. He always brought it every day. For him to have this fate is really sad.”

Nelson was offered a scholarship by Weber State the previous season, but another player took the scholarship while Nelson waited to see if more offers came his way. Then, in the waning hours of recruiting, Nelson received an offer from Missouri State and committed without hesitation.

Nelson’s cousin Rickey Nichols suggested the Missouri State coaches take a look at Nelson during Nichols’ visit to the school. They did, and both eventually ended up at the school.

Nelson was a redshirt freshman last season at Missouri State. The Bears' coach, Dave Steckel, said in a statement that Nelson's death was a tragedy in that "he lost his life defending what was right." Steckel described Nelson as "like a son or a brother."

Kyle Moats, Missouri State's athletics director, said that the Springfield school would offer grief counseling for student-athletes when they return to campus this week.

“Your character off the playing field is what truly separated you from many, but your skill set on the field, track and basketball court is what made you legendary,” Lito Soifua, a coach at Chaparral wrote about Nelson on Facebook.

Nelson’s journey was cut short, but his mark in the Las Vegas community and Chaparral High School are lasting.

“We will miss him so much and we will remember him as a kind, smart man with a tenaciousness on the field,” the Chaparral football team posted on Facebook. “He deserved all of the recognition and accolades that came his way. We won't ever forget this Cowboy.”

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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