Man Charged with Open Murder in Death of William Gray

Accident – Death – Obituary News : LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — An individual accused of committing a fatal shooting in Downtown Las Vegas reportedly claimed that the victim had robbed him, according to a report from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.

The incident took place on October 22 at approximately 5 p.m., when several 911 callers reported a shooting at the intersection of 3rd Street and Utah Avenue. Law enforcement officers and medical personnel swiftly responded to the scene, where they discovered the victim, later identified as William Gray, with a gunshot wound to the head. Regrettably, medical personnel pronounced Gray dead on-site.

Authorities were able to obtain surveillance footage from a nearby business, which depicted two suspects jaywalking across Las Vegas Boulevard near Utah Avenue. One of the suspects has been identified as 42-year-old Shawndell Byrant.

The footage revealed that Byrant and the other suspect were standing on the corner of Utah and 3rd Streets when Gray walked past them. An interaction between Bryant and Gray occurred, during which Gray suddenly collapsed to the ground. Bryant then appeared to retrieve an item from Gray’s hand before chasing after the second suspect who had fled the scene.

Additionally, surveillance footage from a neighboring building captured Bryant and the other suspect entering an apartment and leaving in an Uber approximately ten minutes later.

When officers arrived at the apartment, they encountered Bryant’s girlfriend, who informed them that Bryant had called her around 5 p.m., instructing her to leave with him in an Uber. However, she chose not to accompany him and returned to the apartment later, only to find that Bryant had already departed.

A witness came forward and informed detectives that he had overheard a man expressing his anger and desire to confront someone named Will. The witness stated that the man claimed Gray had robbed him and that he intended to seek revenge. This account aligns with the perception of Gray as a deceitful drug dealer who was notorious for shortchanging customers or diluting drugs with substances like baking soda. The witness expressed little surprise at Gray’s unfortunate fate.

Gray’s girlfriend also revealed that they had been threatened by two individuals who harbored ill feelings towards Gray. She recounted an incident on October 18 when two men entered their room at a local bed and breakfast and threatened them at gunpoint. A video recorded by Gray’s girlfriend captured Bryant making threatening remarks, including the statement, “[I’ll] be back, [expletive], on my mama.”

On November 1, law enforcement arrested Byrant at an apartment located in the 9300 block of Gilcrease Avenue. He has since been taken into custody at the Clark County Detention Center, facing charges of open murder and an unrelated DUI charge. Byrant’s next court appearance is scheduled for November 20..