Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Man arrested as accessory in slaying that preceded police shooting

Metro Police arrested a man as an accessory in a slaying earlier this week that preceded a fatal officer-involved shooting on Wednesday.

Adam Williamson, 28, was arrested late Thursday evening on a count of accessory to murder with a deadly weapon.

Police believe Williamson helped 23-year-old Jason Baires buy a chainsaw, lighter fluid, cleaning supplies and other materials to conceal the slaying of Rudolpho Velasco-Bayardo, who was found dead in his home from stab wounds on Monday, according to an arrest report.

Baires, who is the son of Velasco-Bayardo’s girlfriend, is suspected of killing Velasco-Bayardo after an argument about a traffic ticket, police said.

On Tuesday, Baires was shot and killed by police near Washington Avenue and Michael Way after a shootout started while officers tried to arrest him.

During their investigation of Velasco-Bayardo’s slaying, police discovered video surveillance that showed Baires at a K-mart Store with another man, later identified to be Adam Williamson, according to the arrest report.

The surveillance tape shows the two men buying a chainsaw, camp axes, gloves, charcoal, wood chips, cleaning supplies and a large cooler. More video surveillance from a Smith’s grocery store showed the two men buying lighter fluid, matches and trash bags, according to the arrest report.

Many such items were found near the crime scene in Velasco-Bayardo’s home, police said.

Williamson was apprehended by police near his home in Las Vegas on Thursday evening and taken to police headquarters for questioning, the report said.

During the interview, Williamson admitted shopping for supplies with Baires and to helping dig a grave to hide Velasco-Bayardo’s body, police said.

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