Metro Police make arrest in shooting at Flamingo Road bar

By Jackie Valley

Published Monday, Nov. 14, 2011 | 8:15 a.m.

Updated Monday, Nov. 14, 2011 | 5:12 p.m.

Metro Police announced an arrest in the shooting death of a bartender at a bar on Flamingo Road, east of UNLV on Monday morning.

Police said late Monday afternoon that a 50-year-old Tennessee man had been taken into custody in connection with the shooting at The Garage bar, 1487 E. Flamingo Road.

Police said the suspect's photo and exact charges he will face would be released Tuesday morning following his booking into the Clark County Detention Center.

Police were called at 5:23 a.m. to the bar after reports of shots being fired in the business, officials said. Officers found the victim inside with apparent gunshot wounds, police said.

It appears someone entered the bar and began shooting, Metro spokeswoman Laura Meltzer said. The suspect at the time was described only as an adult male wearing dark clothing, police said.

The investigation is ongoing, but it appears robbery was not the motive, police said.

Police did not identify the victim, but KSNV Channel 3 reported that friends identified him as Phil Wells, a bartender at The Garage. A friend, Brandon Busche, said Wells was not the type of person to make enemies and Busche couldn't understand why he was shot.

The mechanic-themed establishment touts itself as “Las Vegas’ newest gay bar,” open 24 hours a day with nightly drink specials, according to The Garage’s Facebook page.

Anyone with any information concerning this crime is urged to contact Metro's homicide section at (702) 828-3521 or Crime Stoppers at 385-5555 or online at www.crimestoppersofnv.com.