Las Vegas police have arrested a 17-year-old in connection with the deadly First Friday shooting that left 15-year-old Carth Onasi Jacobs-Rodgers dead and two others injured in the Arts District. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said the teenager was arrested Tuesday after detectives identified him as the suspect in the Oct. 2 shooting near South Main Street and West Charleston Boulevard.
Las Vegas Police Arrest Teen After Arts District Shooting
Police said the suspect fled the area before officers arrived. Detectives later identified a 17-year-old as the person believed to be responsible.
Per FOX5, authorities booked the suspect into Clark County Juvenile Hall on charges of murder with a deadly weapon and two counts of attempted murder with a deadly weapon. Because the suspect is a juvenile, authorities have not publicly identified him.
According to LVMPD, officers were in the area at about 10:17 p.m. when they heard gunfire. Officers moved into the crowd and found two people with apparent gunshot wounds. Additional officers then located a third injured person.
Medical personnel transported all three victims to a nearby hospital. One person was pronounced dead. The victim was later identified by his stepmother, Tara Rodgers, as Jacobs-Rodgers, a 15-year-old student at Desert Pines High School.
The LVMPD Homicide Section responded after the shooting. Detectives determined that a physical altercation involving several people had taken place before the gunfire.
Surveillance Video Captures First Friday Chaos
New surveillance footage obtained by 8 News Now showed the disruption that followed the shooting. The video came from a camera outside a tattoo business near Main Street and Charleston Boulevard.
The footage showed people running through the area after the gunfire. Some people entered the nearby business and sought shelter inside. A tattoo artist who witnessed the incident described the scene as frightening. The witness asked not to be identified while speaking with the publication.
The shooting also affected nearby businesses. Jimi Mastronardi, who owns Star Las Vegas with his wife, told the station that they were returning to their store when they heard the gunfire. Mastronardi also recalled seeing emergency personnel treating Jacobs-Rodgers.
He later learned that a bullet had damaged the upper portion of his store window. The incident has prompted renewed discussion among some Arts District business owners about how First Friday events could be organized in the future.
First Friday Organizers Review Safety Plans
First Friday organizers said they planned to meet with city officials and police to review the incident and determine how to move forward. The organization previously expressed its condolences after the shooting and said it was committed to developing an appropriate response before planning or announcing future events.
The deadly incident occurred during the 24th anniversary celebration of First Friday, a recurring arts and culture event that brings artists, vendors, musicians, and attendees to the downtown Las Vegas area.
Meanwhile, the LVMPD investigation remains active. The arrest marks a significant development in the case after police initially searched for the person responsible for the shooting.
Jacobs-Rodgers’ family previously described him as a loved member of their family who enjoyed basketball, boxing, video games, and making people laugh. The two other people injured in the shooting survived their injuries, according to police reports.
