Police identify suspect in February shooting death

By Jackie Valley

Tuesday, May 3, 2011 | 12:53 p.m.

Metro Police have named a suspect in a February shooting that killed 27-year-old Justin Jones at an apartment complex near Maryland Parkway and Tropicana Avenue.

Police said warrants were issued for Gerald Wayne Osby charging him with conspiracy to commit murder, murder with a deadly weapon and ex-felon in possession of a firearm.

Authorities believe Osby might be armed and traveling between Bakersfield, Calif., and Southern Nevada to avoid capture.

Witnesses told police that tensions had been brewing between the suspect and victim because Osby allegedly had shot Jones' twin brother several months prior, according to the warrant. Jones' brother left the state after the shooting, police noted in the report.

Justin Jones was shot about 3:40 p.m. Feb. 27 at the Parkway Villas apartments, 5115 Golden Lane. He died at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center later that day.

Police said a group of people were gathered in the street in front of an open garage before the shooting.

During that time, a man arrived and got into a confrontation with the victim, pulled a handgun and shot at him several times, authorities said.

A neighbor told detectives that on the morning of Feb. 27 she saw Jones shoot at Osby, known as "G," and an unknown man known as "Compton Blood," according to the warrant. Thirty minutes later, the neighbor said "G" and "Compton Blood" came back and told Jones they were angry he shot at them. Later that afternoon, the neighbor heard several gunshots outside and found Jones with a gunshot wound, the warrant alleges.

In March, police labeled Osby as a person of interest in the case and said they wanted to interview him.

Anyone with information about Osby's location or the case is asked to contact Metro's homicide detail at (702) 828-3521 or, to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at (702) 385-5555 or visit www.crimestoppersofnv.com.