‘He had a big heart’: Family mourns 15-year-old killed in downtown Las Vegas shooting

LAS VEGAS (KVVU/Gray News) — A family is mourning the loss of their 15-year-old son who was killed in a shooting in a downtown Las Vegas arts district.

The family of the teen killed in Friday night’s shooting identified him as 15-year-old Carth Onasi Jacobs-Rodgers. The teen’s stepmother said he was a sophomore at Desert Pines High School.

She described him as smart, brave and strong-willed, the oldest of nine siblings, who loved his sisters and little brother, making people laugh, boxing, basketball and video games.

“He had a big heart... He was goofy — when he laughed you couldn’t help but laugh too... He is loved by many and will be missed by all of us,” she said in a statement to KVVU.

The family has set up an online fundraiser to help with funeral costs.

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said officers were near South Main Street and West Charleston Boulevard around 10:17 p.m. Friday during a community First Friday event when they heard shots in the area. Officers found two gunshot victims in a crowd, then a third. All three were taken to a hospital. Jacobs-Rodgers later died from his injuries.

Homicide Lt. Robert Price said the two survivors have non-life-threatening injuries.

Detectives determined a fight occurred between several individuals. At some point, an unknown male produced a firearm and began shooting, striking multiple people, police said. The suspect fled prior to officers arriving.

Mayor Pro Tem Olivia Diaz expressed her sympathy with the victims and attendees from the First Friday shooting.

“My heart is with the victims, victims’ families, and First Friday attendees affected by last night’s shooting in the Arts District,” she said. “Thank you to all the LVMPD officers, first responders, First Friday staff, community partners and volunteers who jumped into action to help guide people to safety.”

The First Friday Foundation said it is “heartbroken” and “grateful” for the law enforcement’s swift response. The Arts District Neighborhood Association, which works closely with the foundation, also expressed sadness and pledged to help make First Friday safer moving forward.

“We hold the victims, their loved ones, and all those affected close to our hearts,” the association said.