Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Family calls man shot by police a curious bystander

A North Las Vegas Police officer who responded to reports of a gang-related shooting at the Judith Villas apartment complex last week shot and wounded an 18-year-old man because he appeared to be reaching for a gun, police officials said.

But Lamar Kiles' family said they wanted to set the record straight: Kiles is not a gun-toting gang member, they said.

He was a curious onlooker, his 28-year-old sister Sherita Thomas said, and he was mistakenly shot by the officer in the chaotic aftermath of a gun battle between rival gangs at the complex.

Officer Justin Roberts, spokesman for the North Las Vegas Police, said detectives are still trying to sort out what happened the morning of Aug. 13. Investigators haven't been able to test his hands for gunpowder residdue or even interview Kiles.

Kiles is in a coma at University Medical Center. Once a skilled athlete, he is now paralyzed, his pelvic region "crushed beyond repair," Thomas said.

Gathered Tuesday morning at Victory Missionary Baptist Church near D Street and Washington Avenue, his sister, mother and aunt asked for help in paying Kiles' hospital bills -- he has no insurance -- and explained through tears that Kiles was a good father who was planning his future.

Kiles had moved in with his father at the Judith Villas complex at 711 E. Nelson St. about two months ago, Thomas said.

When gunfire erupted outside in the wee hours a week ago, Kiles "went outside to see what all the commotion was all about," Thomas said.

Police said they went to the complex to investigate the reports of gunfire, found nothing, then were called back about 30 minutes later.

Officers heard two different sets of gunshots and saw young men running in various directions.

"They had people running from them, toward them. It was pretty chaotic," Roberts said. "They didn't know who was friend or foe."

While officers were trying to control the scene, two people rounded a corner and came up behind them.

When the officers ordered them to put their hands up, police say, Kiles made a movement that made the officer fear for his life. Officer Robinson Reed, a 7 1/2-year member of the department, shot him once in the hip with a shotgun.

Police said they found no weapon on Kiles, but they found a handgun about 15 feet from the spot where he fell, they said. It's not clear if the gun was his. His family said it wasn't.

"Until Lamar regains consciousness and can tell us what really happened, we hope others will not continue to put out misinformation regarding the incident," Thomas said. "He didn't run away. He's not in any type of gang."

Kiles does have a criminal record: He was arrested by North Las Vegas Police in July for domestic battery and he was picked up several times as a juvenile, according to police, but those records are sealed.

Along with the investigation into the shootings that brought the officers to the apartment complex, the department's force review board is also looking into the officer-involved shooting to determine if Reed's actions were justified.

"Regardless of guilt or fault, it's a tragedy," Roberts said.

Kiles has a 5-month-old son and had just signed up for culinary arts classes at Community College of Southern Nevada with a goal of working at a local banquet facility owned by his aunt, Angela Tatum.

"He always had his baby with him," Tatum said. "I was surprised he didn't have the baby with him when he was shot."

Kiles had recently registered with the Selective Service "and had just received his card on the day of this horrific tragedy," Tatum said, crying and stamping her high-heeled shoe with emotion on the linoleum.

Thomas said there are no immediate plans to file a civil lawsuit against the police department.

"Our primary concern is that he has a full recovery," Thomas said, adding that they haven't seen the police report. They hired an attorney, Arthur L. Williams Jr., "to make sure Lamar's rights are protected."

Williams has set up a medical trust fund for those who wish to help Kiles' family with his medical bills. Contributions can be sent to Williams at 3190 Westwind Road, Las Vegas, 89146.

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