Thursday, June 8, 2023 | 5:45 p.m.
Jessie Rios, 18, stands during his initial appearance at the Regional Justice Center Wednesday, May 10, 2023. Rios is a suspect in the shooting of a campus security monitor outside Ed Von Tobel Middle School on Monday. STEVE MARCUS
An ongoing feud may have led to a shooting last month that wounded a Las Vegas middle school security monitor, according to an arrest report and charging documents for the accused gunman.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police arrest report alleges that on May 8, Jessie Rios, 18, fired out of the passenger window of a silver Nissan sedan at a white Chevy sedan it was following near Judson Avenue and Bonnie Lane. He’s then accused of, not long after, shooting at two teens who were on foot outside an apartment complex about half a mile from Ed Von Tobel Middle School.
Police recovered 15 spent shell casings from the two locations – at Judson and Bonnie, about three miles east of the middle school, and at Judson Avenue and Clifford Street, about half a mile south of the school, the report stated.
Police also found a white Chevy sedan with four bullet holes in it at the apartment complex at Judson and Clifford, the report stated.
Police received a call at 12:38 p.m. from Von Tobel saying that a civilian security monitor had been shot in the hip while outside on campus, the report stated. According to the school’s daily schedule, the monitor was hit during a brief lull between lunch periods.
The security monitor, whose injury was nonlife-threatening, was apparently the only person hit during either shooting. The incident sent Von Tobel and two nearby elementary schools into lockdown while officers from three police agencies descended on the schools’ northeast valley neighborhood.
The Chevy’s driver told police that earlier that day, he and a friend had left Sunrise Mountain High School at around lunchtime and driven to a park across the street, where they sat in the car in the parking lot, the report stated. While they were at the park, which is about five miles away from Von Tobel, a silver Nissan approached and a passenger gestured for the Chevy’s driver to come to him, the report stated. The Chevy’s driver told investigators that he refused and left the park, but the Nissan followed.
After traveling about two miles, the passenger – whom police identified as Rios – leaned out of the car window and fired several times at the Chevy, the report stated. The Chevy passenger said he lost sight of the Nissan around Carey Avenue and Nellis Boulevard.
Two teens who had been at the apartment at Judson and Clifford told police that they were outside the complex, not long before the call came in from Von Tobel, when they saw a silver Nissan driving slowly in the area before a passenger of the vehicle fired at them. It was at this point that police believe Rios fired the round that hit the security monitor.
The report shows investigators found evidence of an ongoing feud involving Rios on a witness’ cell phone. Details of the feud were redacted. However, Rios’ charging documents from the Clark County District Attorney’s Office allege attempted murder “for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in affiliation with, a criminal gang” and go on to name a gang.
Police found a silver Nissan registered to Rios’ mother parked outside his home near Lamb Boulevard and Carey Avenue. Police were familiar with Rios and the house, as it had been hit by gunfire in the past, the report stated.
Officers served a search warrant on the house and car at about 2:30 a.m. on May 9, took Rios into custody, and seized two guns: a 9 mm Glock handgun and a .357 Glock that had been reported stolen.
The report indicates all of the people who were targets of the gunfire were between 15 and 17 years old.
The report did not mention the identity of the Nissan’s driver.
Rios was initially charged with 24 felony counts related to the shootings. Jail records now indicate that he is being held on 13 counts, including four counts of attempted murder, two counts of battery, two counts of assault, and five counts of discharging a gun within a vehicle within a prohibited area.
He remains in the Clark County Detention Center on $100,000 bond. His next court hearing is scheduled for June 22.
