Police: Same gunman targeted homeless victims in Las Vegas

Metro Police say the same gunman is responsible for fatally shooting two homeless men and wounding two other people in the past nine days.

Three of the four victims were homeless, and the other, who was shot in Logandale, about 60 miles north of Las Vegas, was by himself outside a convenience store when the gunman opened fire, Metro homicide unit Capt. Robert Plummer said.

Forensic analysis connected the same gun to all four shootings, he said.

“After killing two people and shooting two others, if he isn’t (a serial killer), he’s on his way to being one,” Plummer said. By the FBI’s definition, a serial killer is a suspect who kills three or more people with about a month between slayings, he added.

The shooter, a white or Hispanic man about 6 feet tall, was captured on surveillance video at three of the scenes and was driving a newer-model Hyundai Tucson Sport or Limited, authorities said. The small SUV is either gray or light blue, Plummer said.

The first shooting was reported early Jan. 29 near a Logandale convenience store. The gunman shot at the victim multiple times – striking him once – before fleeing the scene, Plummer said.

A couple of hours later, about 3 a.m., the same man approached a group of homeless people sleeping outside the Rancho Discount Mall in the 2900 block of Washington Avenue and fatally shot one of them, Plummer said. The victim was reportedly identified as Brian Wayne Clegg, 51.

A few hours later, he opened fire on another homeless man sleeping near Washington Avenue and Veterans Memorial Drive, Plummer said. The man, who was shot in the face, survived but could not provide any details about what happened, police said.

Then on Friday, the same man approached the fourth victim, James Edgar Lewis, 64, who was sleeping near 14th Street and U.S. 95, and shot him twice in the head before fleeing in the SUV, police said. The shooting was captured on video.

Investigators are asking residents and business operators near the scenes to check surveillance footage from Jan. 29 to Feb. 2 for any clues, Plummer said.

The areas of interest to police are Charleston Boulevard and Washington Avenue to Rancho Drive and Valley View Boulevard, and from Stewart Avenue and Bonanza Road to Maryland Parkway and Eastern Avenue.

Police have increased patrols in the region’s homeless corridors and stepped up outreach with the transient communities, Plummer said.

“To target homeless, (a) very vulnerable segment of our society, is cowardly,” Plummer said. “It’s unfortunate that anyone is homeless in today’s society, but the fact that they’re homeless doesn’t mean they’re easy targets for being a victim. We care about our homeless as much as we care about the residents who live in Summerlin or Spanish trails, Henderson ... wherever.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Metro at 702-828-3521 or via email at [email protected]. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555 or online at crimestoppersofnv.com.

Editor's note: The attached video contains graphic violence that may be considered offensive.