Major Sanford Arrested for Shooting and Killing Shannon Awa at Las Vegas Academy

Accident – Death – Obituary News : New details emerge in Las Vegas shooting incident

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department has released a report with new information regarding the recent shooting incident in Las Vegas. According to the report, the suspect, identified as Major Sanford, shot and killed a man before firing shots at a school in Las Vegas. The motive behind the crime, as stated by Sanford, was that the victim was an “alien” who wanted to be his brother.

The incident occurred on November 9 at around 7 a.m., when multiple calls were made to LVMPD dispatch reporting gunshots. One caller mentioned that their vehicle was shot at while they were sitting in it at the Las Vegas Academy of Arts. The police report reveals that Sanford, a 44-year-old resident of the area, was a person of interest in a gun theft case reported on November 2.

Witnesses described the suspect as a man in his 30s or 40s, with dreadlocks and face tattoos, who was seen holding a gun. One witness stated that they saw the suspect shooting indiscriminately at the theatre building of the Las Vegas Academy of Arts. Fearing for their safety, the witness got into a friend’s car and left the area. Later, the witness positively identified Sanford as the man they saw.

Police officers responding to the scene discovered three bullet impacts on the east side of the theatre building. They then spotted Sanford leaving an apartment in the vicinity and apprehended him. During the arrest, Sanford allegedly confessed to the crime, stating, “I killed that alien.”

Further investigation led the officers to discover two broken windows at Sanford’s apartment. Concerned for the safety of anyone inside, they conducted a welfare check and found the victim, identified as Shannon Awa, lying on the floor of a bedroom. Awa had been shot in the back of the head and the back of his left shoulder. Medical personnel pronounced him dead at the scene.

Sanford informed the police that he had been living in the apartment with his mother for the past two years. He mentioned that his mother had recently been admitted to the hospital due to breathing troubles. When asked about other family members, Sanford referred to the victim as “that alien,” explaining that Awa was not his actual brother but had desired to be.

According to Sanford’s statement to the police, he believed Awa was attempting to rob him by taking his marijuana and gun. In response, Sanford shot Awa twice.

Sanford now faces multiple charges, including open murder with the use of a deadly weapon, discharging a gun into an occupied structure, possession of a gun by a prohibited person, carrying a concealed weapon without a permit, grand larceny of a firearm, and assault with a deadly weapon.

Court records reveal a history of arrests for Sanford in Clark County dating back to 2003, including charges of theft, burglary, robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, and being an ex-felon with a deadly weapon. He has previously served time in the Nevada prison system.

Sanford is currently held at the Clark County Detention Center, with his next court appearance scheduled for January 11.

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