Victim, 18, ran from gunman before fatal NLV shooting, police say

A teenager gunned down Monday night in the parking lot of a North Las Vegas shopping center has been identified by the Clark County Coroner’s Office as Kwavontia Thomas, 18.

Meanwhile, North Las Vegas Police on Wednesday were working “very good leads” to find a suspect, whom they believe knew Thomas, Officer Eric Leavitt said.

Detectives weren’t naming the suspected gunman, who fled after the shooting, and only described him as being a male.

Gunshot blasts erupted about 4:30 p.m. outside a shopping center that houses a pharmacy and a supermarket on Lake Mead Boulevard near Civic Center Street, Leavitt said.

A camera showed Thomas running from the suspect before he was shot in the parking lot, Leavitt said. The two had exchanged words just before Thomas scrambled.

A motive hadn’t been determined, but investigators believe the shooting was not a random act of violence.

Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call North Las Vegas Police at 702-633-9111. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555 or crimestoppersofnv.com.