The District Attorney confirmed on May 18th that the accused gunman who killed 19-year-old Mahki Brown was identified as the potential suspect based on his unique shoes. Prosecutors say the suspect, Henry Thomas, was wearing black Air Jordan sneakers with specific red and yellow trim when the alleged attack occurred on May 7th.
The shoes were unique enough to be traced back to the suspect.
Investigators found surveillance camera footage of the incident. In the film, the murder suspect is sitting on a basket of a Citi Bike just before the shooting. In the footage, the suspect’s legs are dangling over the side of the basket, and you can clearly distinguish the unique shoes. The shooter reportedly saw Mahki, a 16-year-old minor, and three girls in what appeared to be an altercation.
The suspect jumped out of the basket and fired three rounds into the crowd. All three of those bullets struck the victim. Two bullets struck the 16-year-old’s legs, and one of the bullets directly hit the victim in the head. After the shooting, Thomas and the person driving the bike both fled from the scene.
Thomas did not act alone, but authorities have not yet identified the accomplice.
Authorities were able to ID the suspect by backtracking the surveillance footage. At the time of the shooting, Thomas was wearing a black hoodie and a surgical mask to conceal his identity, but earlier on in the footage, investigators found video of Thomas wearing the same shoes but without the mask.
After arresting Thomas, investigators executed a search warrant on his home. There, they discovered and recovered the sneakers they believed to be the ones in the video.
Thomas is being charged with both murder and the unauthorized possession of firearms.
Is it Possible to Defend Yourself Against Murder Charges?
The unlawful and violent act of taking someone else’s life is defined as one of the most serious charges you can face in the state of Nevada. As you’d expect, this type of serious crime comes with penalties that are equally as harsh if you face a conviction. In Las Vegas, a murder conviction can result in a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Considering the severity of lifelong imprisonment, it’s necessary to hire a lawyer if you ever believe you could face murder charges. It is possible to utilize a defense strategy that improves your potential legal outcome. In some cases, it may be possible to have your charges thrown out, especially if you acted in self-defense or you can prove that you didn’t commit the crime. In other cases where evidence is significant, like the case above, it may be prudent to consider a legal strategy that involves pleading guilty to a reduced charge in exchange for a much lighter sentence.
Are you currently weighing out what to do after you were charged with a crime here in Nevada? If so, then we’re prepared to help. Get in touch with us to talk about your charges and your options going forward.
