Crime · Downtown Las Vegas
Downtown Las Vegas Arts District First Friday shooting: teen pleads not guilty to murder
A 17-year-old accused in the deadly Oct. 2 shooting near Main Street and Charleston Boulevard entered his plea Thursday in a downtown Las Vegas courtroom.
November 12, 2026 at 10:32 AM · Vegas Support Center
A 17-year-old boy pleaded not guilty Thursday morning, Nov. 12, to murder and weapon charges in connection with a deadly shooting at the First Friday event in the Las Vegas Arts District. The arraignment took place in a downtown Las Vegas courtroom less than a mile from where the Oct. 2 shooting happened near Main Street and Charleston Boulevard.
According to an indictment filed by a Clark County grand jury on Friday, Nov. 6, the teenager faces one count of murder with use of a deadly weapon, with the intent to promote, further or assist a criminal gang. The indictment also charges him with two counts of battery with use of a deadly weapon resulting in substantial bodily harm and one count of carrying a concealed firearm or other dangerous weapon.
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police said a fight broke out near Main Street and Charleston Boulevard during the Friday, Oct. 2 event, and shots were fired. A 15-year-old boy was struck and killed, and two other people were shot and suffered substantial bodily harm.
Police said in an arrest report that the violence started after two groups crossed paths at the festival and began challenging each other to a fight. Investigators recovered nine shell casings, surveillance video and a wallet left at the scene containing a bus pass and a credit card with the suspect's name on them.
After detectives took the 17-year-old into custody, he told police that another group approached him and his friends and started a fight, according to the arrest report. Police wrote that the teenager later admitted the two groups were street gangs challenging each other to a brawl at the event, and he admitted to the shooting.
Following the grand jury indictment on Nov. 6, a Clark County court ordered the teenager held without bail at the Clark County Detention Center and dismissed an earlier Las Vegas Justice Court case at the state's request. He is scheduled to return to court on Wednesday, Nov. 18, at 8:30 a.m. to set a trial date.
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