Heavy police presence followed a deadly First Friday shooting in Las Vegas. This happened after gunfire broke out near South Main Street and West Charleston Boulevard in the Arts District late Friday night, leaving one person dead and two others injured. The incident happened as crowds gathered for the monthly First Friday arts and culture event near downtown Las Vegas.
LVMPD Investigates First Friday Shooting Las Vegas Incident
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said officers were in the area at about 10:17 p.m. when they heard shots being fired. Officers immediately moved toward the crowd after hearing the gunfire. They found two people suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Additional officers then arrived and located a third person who had also been injured.
Medical personnel transported all three victims to a nearby hospital. One person was later pronounced dead. Police said the other two victims suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
The LVMPD Homicide Section responded to the scene and began investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting. Detectives determined that a physical altercation involving several people happened before the gunfire.
Police said an unknown male produced a firearm during the altercation and fired at multiple people. The suspect fled the area before officers arrived. The incident prompted a significant police response around the Arts District as investigators worked to establish what happened and identify the person responsible.
Family Identifies Teen Killed During First Friday
The person who died was later identified by his family as 15-year-old Carth Onasi Jacobs-Rodgers, a sophomore at Desert Pines High School. His family told FOX5 that Jacobs-Rodgers was the oldest of nine siblings. His stepmother described him as smart, brave, and strong-willed. She also said he loved his sisters and younger brother and enjoyed making people laugh.
According to his family, Jacobs-Rodgers also enjoyed boxing, basketball, and video games. His death brought renewed attention to the shooting and its impact on the young people and families who were attending First Friday. The two other people injured in the shooting were reported to have non-life-threatening injuries.
First Friday Organizers Respond
First Friday Las Vegas issued a statement following the shooting, confirming that gunfire occurred in the vicinity of the event during its final minutes. Organizers said they were grateful for the swift response from Las Vegas police and expressed concern for everyone affected.
The organization also said it would take time to understand the circumstances before determining an appropriate response for future events. “As we navigate waiting for all the details so we can fully understand and process what happened, please know we are committed to doing everything we can in identifying the most thorough and appropriate response possible, which we will provide before the planning or announcement of any future events,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, the LVMPD investigation continued as authorities worked to determine the events that led to the shooting. The Clark County Coroner’s Office is expected to release additional information about the victim’s death, including the official cause and manner of death.
The shooting occurred near one of downtown Las Vegas’ recurring arts and culture gatherings, which brings artists, vendors, musicians, and attendees to the Arts District on the first Friday of each month.
