UPDATE 9 A.M. JAN. 23: Christopher Valenzuela-Olivas was granted $100,000 bail in his first court appearance on Thursday morning. Attorneys for the teen accused of the triple shooting inside the Fashion Show Mall claim he may have acted in self-defense.
According to police reports, one of the victims told officers he agreed to fight Valenzuela-Olivas and a friend. This same person said he punched the suspect’s friend and that's when the 18-year-old shot him.
More than 100 officers responded Tuesday’s scene, according to court records.
Valenzuela-Olivas is scheduled to appear in court next on Jan. 27.
UPDATE 11 P.M. JAN. 22: Court records show Christoper Valenzuela-Olivas is facing three attempted murder charges stemming from Wednesday's shooting. Police confirmed his arrest Wednesday, and his initial court appearance is scheduled for Thursday morning.
UPDATE 4:30 P.M. JAN. 22: Las Vegas police have announced they have arrested 18-year-old Christoper Valenzuela-Olivas for the shooting on Tuesday night at Fashion Show mall.
The investigation revealed that Valenzuela-Olivas and an acquaintance were in a verbal argument with an individual as they walked through the mall. Valenzuela-Olivas was about to exit the mall when he took out a handgun and shot multiple rounds striking the person he was arguing with, as well as two innocent bystanders. Valenzuela-Olivas and his companion fled from the scene prior to officer’s arrival.
On Jan. 22, Valenzuela-Olivas was taken into custody without incident by Major Violators and ROP (Repeat Offender Program). He has been transported to the Clark County Detention Center where he faces three charges for attempt murder.
Pastor Troy Martinez with CCSD's School Safety Committee on guns tells 13 Action News that those involved are from our local community and were recently in CCSD schools.
“When there’s an attractive place and somewhere to go, sometimes you have these random altercations and so its no fault of the store owners or those that are working there," says Martinez.
Pastor Martinez is know in the Las Vegas valley for speaking to communities following tragedy, specifically involving young people and he wants parents to get involved to prevent more incidents.
“If their young person goes to a middle school or high school they need to have an immediate conversation with hem," says Martinez.
UPDATE 11:50 A.M. JAN. 22: School police are assisting Las Vegas police with the Fashion Show Mall shooting, Clark County School District confirms. The school district is sometimes asked to assist with an investigation if minors are involved. Police say there have been no arrests related to the shooting. No suspect descriptions were given.
ORIGINAL STORY
Police have confirmed that 3 people have non-life-threatening injuries after a shooting inside Fashion Show mall on the Las Vegas Strip on Tuesday night.
The shooter or shooters left the mall before police arrived, according to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.
The shooting was initially reported at 6:15 p.m. Las Vegas police, Nevada Highway Patrol and Clark County Fire Department responded to the incident. Although police have not given any information about what led to the shooting, they did tell the media that it was not an "active shooter" situation.
Nevada Highway Patrol closed all off-ramps from Interstate 15 to eastbound Spring Mountain during the incident. The closures were lifted shortly before 9:30 p.m.
WATCH LIVE REPORT FROM 13 ACTION NEWS
An employee describes what happened after the shooting@KTNV pic.twitter.com/jW0k156KCk
— Joe Bartels (@Joe_Bartels) January 22, 2020
#BREAKING we are arriving at the Fashion Show mall in Las Vegas for a big police response. Working with @LVMPD on scene for details @KTNV pic.twitter.com/PqDvHoIyqF
— Joe Bartels (@Joe_Bartels) January 22, 2020
The LVMPD is investigating a shooting that occurred at the Fashion Show Mall and two persons are reported injured. Officers are on scene and clearing the area. Preliminary information indicates the suspects fled after the shooting before police arrived. pic.twitter.com/PyGUeBIRw2
— LVMPD (@LVMPD) January 22, 2020
#TrafficAlert All off ramps from I-15 to eastbound Spring Mountain closed due to police activity. Avoid the area and find an alternate route. #NHPSoComm
— NHP Southern Command (@NHPSouthernComm) January 22, 2020
This is not the first time that there has been a shooting at the mall.
Hasean Quinn was arrested in May 2019 after a fight and shooting inside of the mall. Although no one was injured, he was charged with felony assault and discharging a firearm inside of an occupied structure.
The mall was on the list of top 10 crime hot spots for 2018. It placed 8th on the list with 1,125 calls for services.
RELATED: Top 10 crime hot spots on the Las Vegas Strip
In 2018, 5 people were robbed at gunpoint in the parking lot of the mall.
