Teen Arrested After Fatal First Friday Shooting as City Reviews the Downtown Las Vegas Arts Event

What happened

A 15-year-old Desert Pines High School student was killed and two other people were hurt in a shooting Friday night during a First Friday event in downtown Las Vegas, KTNV reported. Police said the shooting happened near Main Street and Charleston Boulevard.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal, which describes First Friday as an arts and culture festival held on the first Friday of each month, identified the student as 15-year-old Carth Onasi Jacobs-Rodgers. According to the Review-Journal, police said three teenagers were shot around 10:17 p.m. during a physical altercation in the Arts District.

Arrest announced Tuesday

Suspect booked into juvenile hall

The Metropolitan Police Department said Tuesday that it had arrested a 17-year-old boy earlier that day, the Review-Journal reported. Police said he was booked into Clark County Juvenile Hall on a charge of murder with a deadly weapon and two counts of attempted murder with a deadly weapon.

Suspect left before officers arrived

Police said Saturday that officers detained several people involved in the altercation. They determined the suspect had fled before officers got there, according to the Review-Journal. KTNV's earlier report said no arrests had been made at that point and the investigation was continuing.

First Friday under review

The city of Las Vegas told KTNV that it is reviewing Friday's event along with the First Friday Foundation and Metro police. The groups plan to meet to discuss possible steps going forward.

In a statement reported by the Review-Journal, organizers said they were devastated by the shooting. They said they are committed to identifying "the most thorough and appropriate response possible." They said they will share that response before any future events are planned or announced.

The Review-Journal reported that the killing has shaken business owners who take part in the festival. KTNV noted that the shooting comes more than four years after another deadly shooting downtown. In June 2022, a teenager pulled out a gun and killed a man after a large fight near Binion's.

How schools respond to a sudden loss

KTNV spoke with Frances Young, who now works with the UNLV School of Social Work. Young spent six years as a social worker with the Clark County School District and responded to numerous crises in schools. She said having a safe person and a safe outlet can be important for anyone coping with a traumatic event.

Students may look for a sense of control

Young told KTNV that sudden violence can change how safe students feel in places that are supposed to offer security and stability. "A death is out of our control a lot of times, and so they desperately want control," she said. She said coping skills and a safe place to process can help students feel they have more control of their lives.

Teachers and staff grieve too

Young said support should not stop with students. "They're the ones that see the empty seat every day," she told KTNV, referring to teachers and school staff. She said crisis support teams come in to help them as well.

KTNV reported that the Clark County School District offers mental health resources for students and families dealing with crises and loss. Readers can follow more district news in our schools coverage.

What to watch next

• The planned meeting of the city of Las Vegas, the First Friday Foundation and Metro police to discuss possible steps after their review of the event.
• The response First Friday organizers said they will provide before any future events are planned or announced.
• Further developments in the case against the 17-year-old booked on murder and attempted murder charges.