Police issued an arrest warrant after a Five Below employee was fatally shot while working at a northwest Las Vegas store.
LAS VEGAS, Nev. — A 31-year-old Five Below employee was shot and killed while working at a Las Vegas store June 17 after a man entered the business asking for him by name, according to police, who have since issued an arrest warrant for a suspect.
The killing has left relatives searching for answers as investigators continue to look for the suspect. Authorities say the shooting happened inside a busy retail center in northwest Las Vegas and appears to have been an isolated incident. Police have not publicly identified a motive, though family members and local reports have pointed to a possible personal dispute. The case remains active, with felony charges pending against the suspect named in court records.
Police said the shooting occurred shortly after 4:30 p.m. on June 17 at a Five Below store in the Best in the West shopping center near North Rainbow Boulevard and West Lake Mead Boulevard. Investigators said a man entered the store and asked for employee Brandan Lucas. According to police, the encounter escalated into a physical confrontation before the suspect drew a handgun and fired. Multiple 911 callers reported gunfire inside the store. Officers arrived and found Lucas suffering from gunshot wounds. Medical personnel pronounced him dead at the scene. Investigators said the suspect left before police arrived. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Lt. Robert Price said authorities do not believe the public faces an ongoing threat related to the case. The shooting disrupted business activity at the shopping center and prompted a large police response as detectives began collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses.
Court records identified the suspect as David Nathaniel Vasquez. Records show a warrant was issued June 18, one day after the shooting. Authorities said Vasquez had not been taken into custody in the latest publicly available reports. He faces allegations including open murder with the use of a deadly weapon, discharging a firearm within a structure in a prohibited area and carrying a concealed firearm without a permit. Police have released few details about what led to the confrontation. Family members told local media they believe the dispute may have involved text messages exchanged before the shooting, but investigators have not confirmed that account. Authorities have stated only that the suspect entered the store seeking a specific employee before the fight and shooting occurred. Detectives continue to review evidence gathered from inside the store, nearby businesses and potential witnesses who were present when the gunfire erupted.
The case has drawn attention because it occurred at a workplace in the middle of a busy shopping area during business hours. Family members said Lucas was simply carrying out his normal duties when the confrontation unfolded. The shooting also renewed discussion about violence in public-facing workplaces across the Las Vegas area. The incident came less than two years after another high-profile workplace attack in the city, when a gunman opened fire inside a Las Vegas Athletic Club, killing employee Edgar Quinonez and injuring three others before police fatally shot the attacker. While investigators have not linked the two incidents, both cases involved employees targeted while at work. The Five Below store sits in a commercial center frequented by shoppers and families, making the circumstances particularly unsettling for employees and nearby businesses. Authorities have emphasized that the current investigation points to a targeted confrontation rather than a random act of violence.
Five Below said it is cooperating fully with law enforcement as the investigation continues. In a statement, the company said it was heartbroken by the loss and focused on supporting employees affected by the shooting. The retailer also said the safety of workers and customers remains its highest priority. Store listings showed the location closed immediately after the incident, though normal operating hours were expected to resume later in the week. The criminal case cannot proceed to initial court hearings until the suspect is arrested and appears before a judge. Investigators are expected to continue reviewing surveillance footage, witness statements and forensic evidence gathered from the scene. Authorities have not announced a timeline for an arrest, nor have they released additional details regarding the events that led to the fatal encounter. The warrant remains active as law enforcement agencies work to locate the suspect.
Lucas’ family said the shock of his death has been difficult to process. His cousin, Shekiera Wright, recalled initially believing he would survive after receiving the first phone call about the incident. Wright said relatives spent hours trying to learn exactly what had happened inside the store. She described Lucas as someone who had simply reported to work on an ordinary day and never returned home. Speaking about the family’s grief, Wright said, “It shouldn’t have been that easy,” referring to the circumstances surrounding the shooting. She also said the violence had permanently altered the lives of those who knew and loved him. Friends and relatives continue to seek answers about how the confrontation developed and whether warning signs existed beforehand. For many family members, the unanswered questions have become part of the mourning process as they wait for investigators to provide additional information.
The investigation remained active Sunday, June 21. Police were still seeking the suspect named in the arrest warrant, and the next major development is expected to be an arrest and initial court appearance once authorities locate him.
Author note: Last updated June 21, 2026.