Las Vegas murder suspect charged in three more deaths

A man arrested in a 2023 murder is now being charged in three additional deaths, according to Metro Police officials Tuesday. 

Michael Coleman, 40, was originally arrested in 2023 for allegedly shooting and killing Kidada Stewart in her front yard. Metro Lieutenant Jason Johansson detailed Tuesday during a press conference how investigators linked Coleman to three other murders as far back as 2021 in partnership with a second suspect. 

According to Johansson, Coleman was working alongside Carl Chester, a Las Vegas man who would assist victims in perpetrating fraudulent PPP loan schemes in exchange for a portion of the money received. If Chester’s portion of the money was not sent, the man would send Coleman to attack or kill the victims. Johansson said at least three of the four murders Coleman is suspected in were in connection to his work with Chester. 

Chester was killed in March by family members of William Hill, one of Coleman’s victims, officials said. In 2021, 33-year-old Oscar Richardson was initially arrested in Texas for the murder of Marcus Larry but was later released from all charges after video and eyewitness testimony exonerated him. Coleman was identified as the suspect in Larry’s death, and Johansson admitted Metro had arrested the wrong suspect. 

“I'll tell you this: At the end of the day, on the Oscar Richardson part of the investigation, is we were wrong,” Johansson said. “We got it wrong. But as in every one of our investigations, the work doesn't end on the day of the arrest.” 

Metro Police has previously espoused an exceptional homicide solve rate compared to other departments nationally, a point Johansson made during the press conference. 

“Our Sheriff’s initiative is to inject humanity in all aspects of police work — this initiative is the driving force behind our homicides commitment to solve every case,” Johansson said. “That is why our homicide section (has) one of the highest solve rates in the country.” 

A separate investigation is being conducted on the scope of the fraudulent loan scheme. Officials did not indicate whether victims were aware they were participating in fraud when interacting with Chester.