Monday, Dec. 16, 2019 | 5:30 p.m.
A man is believed to have started multiple fires in North Las Vegas Sunday night and shot at fleeing victims before taking his own life in a nearby neighborhood, according to city police.
Metro Police, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives helped North Las Vegas Police find the suspect, who was found dead from a gunshot wound, officials said today.
Officers were dispatched to a “religious campus” in the 2900 block of West Gowan Road, near Simmons Street, about 8 p.m. to reports of multiple fires and the sound of gunshot blasts, police said.
A Buddhist temple is located in the area.
Police said they found three people who were fleeing the house of worship, at least one of whom reported being fired upon by the man who tried to set the place on fire.
North Las Vegas firefighters extinguished two fires at the location, police said.
Meanwhile, as they put out the flames, they were dispatched to the 3000 block of Logan Avenue — in a neighborhood about a quarter-mile away — where the same man is believed to have started a house fire, police said.
The occupants escaped injury, police said. The man’s body was found in a nearby backyard, police said.
A possible motive hasn’t been publicly identified.
The ATF has taken over the arson investigations while North Las Vegas Police is probing the shooting. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 702-633-9111. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555 or crimestoppersofnv.com.
