Arrest Made in North Las Vegas Teenager’s Murder Case: Mother Speaks Out

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – Over six months have passed since the tragic shooting death of a teenager in a North Las Vegas grocery store parking lot. The victim’s mother, Demika Harris, recently shared her thoughts with 8 News Now about a significant development in the case.

“Every day, the absence of my son weighs heavily on my heart,” Harris expressed, reflecting on her loss of Theajon Alexander.

Harris opened up about the immense pain she has endured since losing her 18-year-old son to violence.

“It’s a daily struggle to cope with the reality that I will never see my child again,” she lamented.

In July 2023, Alexander’s life was tragically cut short when he was fatally shot in the parking lot of Smith’s near Centennial Parkway and Losee Road. The incident, where he sustained multiple gunshot wounds, left the community in shock.

For months, the case remained unresolved as authorities tirelessly searched for the perpetrator responsible for Theajon’s untimely demise.

“I was losing hope, convinced that justice would elude us,” Harris revealed in her conversation with 8 News Now. “The passing months felt like an eternity as I awaited closure every waking day.”

However, in January, a breakthrough occurred as Harris received the news of an arrest in the case.

“A flurry of emotions overcame me – happiness, anger, and relief,” she recounted. “The arrest brought a mix of feelings that I struggled to process.”

The suspect, identified as 18-year-old T Coal McKinley, was apprehended in Los Angeles, California on January 8 and subsequently transported back to the Clark County Detention Center this week.

“There is a sense of closure in knowing that this individual is no longer a threat,” Harris remarked. “I hope that this person seeks the help they need and prevents further harm to others.”

While the arrest cannot erase the pain of losing Theajon, Harris views this development as a small step towards closure and justice for her family.

“We will navigate through this challenging time together,” she affirmed. “We are prepared to face the upcoming legal proceedings and seek the justice that we deserve.”

According to court documents, McKinley is currently held at CCDC with no option for bail.

He is charged with open murder and is scheduled for his second court appearance on March 12.