A security officer arrested on suspicion of murder shot a man Wednesday night outside a northeast Las Vegas 7-Eleven after arguing with him over COVID-19 restrictions at the store, according to her arrest report.
The security officer, Kegia Mitchell, 36, was taken to the Clark County Detention Center, police said on Thursday. Mitchell’s arrest report identified the man killed as Thomas Martin, although the Clark County coroner’s office had not released his name as of Thursday afternoon.
Officers were called about 10:50 PM to the 7-Eleven at 4395 Las Vegas Blvd. North, near Nellis Air Force Base, Metropolitan Police Department homicide Lieutenant Ray Spencer said. He said early Thursday that the security guard suspected of shooting the man had not been arrested, but police announced Thursday afternoon that she is facing charges.
Police said Mitchell was working as an armed, uniformed security officer and was letting customers into the store under COVID-19 occupancy restrictions. According to her arrest report, Martin and Mitchell were arguing “over Martin having to wait outside the store.”
“The argument escalated to the point when Martin pushes his way into the store where a physical struggle ensues between him and Mitchell,” the report said.
During the struggle, Mitchell pulled out her gun and shot Martin once in the chest, the report said. The officer who wrote the report stated that Martin was not armed and that he “did not physically attack Mitchell.”
During an interview with police, Mitchell reportedly said Martin became angry and pushed his way into the store after she “gave permission to another unknown patron” to enter the store. Before she told the other customer to enter, Mitchell heard Martin say, “Don’t do it again I’m gonna get you,” the report said… Las Vegas Review-Journal