A fatal shooting that left a Las Vegas Five Below store employee dead is now at the center of a homicide investigation after police said a dispute over a text message may have led to the deadly confrontation. Authorities identified the suspect as 19-year-old David Nathaniel Vasquez, who remained at large as of June 24. Investigators allege Vasquez fatally shot 31-year-old Brandan Lucas inside a Five Below store near Rainbow and Lake Mead boulevards on June 17 before fleeing the scene.
Retail Store Shooting in Las Vegas Leaves Employee Dead
According to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, officers responded to reports of a shooting at the store around 4:30 p.m. When they arrived, they found Lucas suffering from gunshot wounds. Police attempted life-saving measures. However, Lucas was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators said the suspect entered the store and asked for a specific employee. Lt. Robert Price previously told local media that a physical altercation had followed before the suspect allegedly pulled out a handgun and opened fire.
According to 8 News Now, court documents state that surveillance footage showed Vasquez allegedly shooting Lucas multiple times before leaving the store. Authorities later obtained an arrest warrant charging Vasquez with open murder with a deadly weapon, discharging a firearm within a structure, and carrying a concealed weapon without a permit.
Records indicate he will be held without bail once arrested. Police believe Vasquez fled in a silver Honda Civic with California license plates. As of Tuesday, investigators continued searching for him.
Flirty Text Messages And A Jealous Lover
According to court records, investigators believe the dispute began with text messages Lucas allegedly sent to Vasquez’s girlfriend, who also worked at the store.
A store manager reportedly told police that Lucas and the woman had previously requested to work together because they got along. However, another manager later received a message indicating she no longer felt comfortable working alongside Lucas.
The woman reportedly told investigators that Lucas sent her messages the day before the shooting that she considered flirtatious and suggested he was attracted to her. She said the texts made her uncomfortable. According to police documents, she showed the messages to Vasquez, who became upset.
The woman allegedly told detectives that Vasquez had anger issues and was extremely protective of her. Court documents state the couple argued about the messages, and Vasquez later requested to review the conversation during a FaceTime call.
Documents further allege that approximately 15 minutes before the shooting, the woman received Life360 notifications showing Vasquez traveling toward the store. She reportedly texted him, “Baby Pls don’t do nothing stupid,” but never received a response.
Family Remembers Brandan Lucas as Investigation Continues
As the investigation moves forward, Lucas’ family is mourning the loss of a man they describe as energetic, caring, and devoted to loved ones.
Lucas had moved to Las Vegas from Detroit about four years ago, according to relatives. Family members said he enjoyed spending time with friends and family and was known for bringing positivity wherever he went.
“This went way too far, and our family’s life is forever affected,” Lucas’ cousin, Shekiera Wright, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “We’re never going to be the same,” she added. Wright also told the newspaper that she believes the text-message exchange may have been misunderstood before the deadly encounter unfolded.
A GoFundMe page established after the shooting described Lucas as someone who brought “energy, laughter, and light into every room he walked into.”Police continue to urge anyone with information regarding Vasquez’s whereabouts to contact investigators, as the search remains active.
