Las Vegas police arrest 2nd suspect in man’s killing near Boulder Highway – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: las-vegas-news.com)
Las Vegas – Authorities have taken a significant step forward in a southeast valley homicide investigation with the arrest of an 18-year-old suspect linked to the fatal shooting of a 59-year-old man. The incident unfolded on April 10 outside an apartment complex along Missouri Avenue, where a planned marijuana robbery escalated into tragedy.[1][2] Victor Powe lost his life after suspects ambushed him in his vehicle, highlighting the dangers lurking in everyday transactions gone wrong.
A Robbery Plan Turns Fatal
Officers responded to reports of gunfire around 6:30 p.m. on April 10 in the 5700 block of Missouri Avenue, near Tropicana Avenue and Boulder Highway. They discovered Powe in his silver Dodge Magnum, which had crashed into a nearby building at the Whitney Water Park. The 59-year-old suffered gunshot wounds to the back of his head and upper left arm. Medical personnel pronounced him dead at the scene.[1][3]
Surveillance footage captured the sequence of events with chilling clarity. Powe pulled into the apartment complex and parked along the curb. Minutes later, three men approached: one at the driver’s door, another at the passenger side, and a third serving as lookout. The driver-side suspect demanded Powe exit the vehicle repeatedly before brandishing a handgun. His accomplice on the passenger side produced a rifle and tried to open the door. As Powe accelerated away, shots rang out, shattering the rear window and striking him. The vehicle veered into the building, and the suspects fled on foot.[1]
Evidence Points to Marijuana Heist
A search of Powe’s car revealed a backpack on the floorboard containing a large bag of suspected marijuana, labeled with an address. Two smaller bags sat in the center console, each with different addresses noted. This discovery aligned with accounts suggesting Powe acted as a delivery runner for a marijuana supplier.[3]
Video from the complex showed the suspects entering a nearby apartment afterward. A subsequent search there uncovered clothing matching their descriptions, along with a cartridge case, rifle magazine, and ammunition. The tenant identified her cousin as a frequent occupant, providing a key lead in the probe.[1] The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department pieced together that the group had run low on marijuana, ordered more through a contact, and targeted Powe upon his arrival.
First Arrest Breaks the Silence
On April 17, detectives arrested 19-year-old Elijah Wayne Harris in connection with the slaying. The Metropolitan Police Department noted in a news release that Harris ranked among the suspects who approached Powe. Authorities booked him into the Clark County Detention Center on charges of open murder with a deadly weapon, attempted robbery, and conspiracy to commit robbery. A judge ordered him held without bail during his initial court appearance that day.[2]
Harris spoke with investigators after initially providing a false address out of fear. He described how the other two suspects visited the apartment to smoke marijuana and play video games. One arrived concealing a rifle, despite his earlier warnings. They arranged for a delivery when supplies dwindled, then left to meet Powe. Harris later claimed surprise at the violence, noting one suspect remarked they were “tripping” and “doing too much” before the shooting. The group returned, changed clothes, and lamented how things “messed up” and “wasn’t supposed to go like that.”[3]
Second Suspect Apprehended
Investigators continued their work, leading to the arrest of 18-year-old Quin’Marion Washington on April 28. Police charged him with open murder with a deadly weapon, attempted robbery with the use of a deadly weapon, and conspiracy to commit robbery. He appeared in court the following Thursday, facing the prospect of detention without bail similar to his co-suspect.[1][4]
Details of Washington’s capture remained limited, but the timing underscored the relentless pursuit by Las Vegas police. With two of the three assailants now in custody, attention turned to identifying and locating the remaining individual, believed to have acted as lookout during the ambush.[4]
Questions Linger in East Valley Case
The Clark County coroner’s office ruled Powe’s death a homicide due to the gunshot wounds. This southeast Las Vegas neighborhood, marked by busy corridors like Boulder Highway, now grapples with the fallout from a deal that spiraled into murder. Police urged the public to come forward with tips to help close the case fully.
As Harris and Washington await further proceedings – Harris due in court May 20 – the investigation reveals how a casual plan for marijuana devolved into irreversible violence. For Powe’s loved ones and the community, justice remains incomplete until all involved face accountability.[4]
