By Jacob Nakamura
The Henderson Police Department in Nevada is trying to find answers for a Las Vegas man, Kevin Mendiola, who is grieving the loss of his eldest son to what appears, for now, to be a random act of senseless violence. Mr. Mendiola is formerly of Barrigada.
Kevin Mendiola, Jr. was shot and killed at a 7-eleven convenience store along the 800 block of East Lake Mead Parkway at Center Street in Henderson early Thanksgiving morning. He was only 22-years-old. His girlfriend and younger brother also were shot, but survived. The brother had to undergo surgery, according to Mr. Mendiola.
The grieving father explained on social media that his sons stopped by the store to get a drink and were on their way home, when the shootings started.
"My boys were just cruising around blasting to [their] favorite music and enjoying the scenery in their trucks and cars that they build and love so much," Mr. Mendiola wrote. "They were about to hit the lake road and loop around back home. Just stopped for a drink, and thats when the nightmare started."
HPD Officer Alan Olvera, who spoke with Kandit News this morning, confirmed two suspects were apprehended by police in Arizona, but that he had not been updated on the suspects's identities. The Las Vegas Review Journal, in a story by Glenn Puit, said the suspects are a White man believed to be in his 20s or 30s with a beard, and a White woman in her 20s. Police in Arizona apprehended the suspects following a series of drive-by shootings in Arizona hours after the Henderson shootings.
"Preliminarily, it is believed that the suspects were driving around the city randomly shooting at citizens with no apparent motive," according to a statement from the HPD. "The suspects were later located and taken into custody for unrelated charges by Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS)."
"We've been gathering information from our counterparts in Arizona," Mr. Olvera told Kandit. "Our department has no further update at this time. This is still an ongoing and active investigation."
The HPD is preparing an update to the case today. Kevin Mendiola, Jr. is the thirteenth person to be murdered in the City of Henderson in 2020, according to HPD.
Anyone with information in this case is urged to call the Henderson Police Department at 702- 267-4911, 3-1-1, or to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555 or visit Crime Stoppers website. Tips directly leading to a felony arrest or an indictment processed through Crime Stoppers may result in a cash reward.
"Hug your Family and tell them you Love them," Mr. Mendiola wrote on a social media post. "My Sons always tells everyone they Love them. Take care of Sonya my Boy. We are devastated but we Know You Are Gods Arms right now. Love you my Boy. I'll take care of your Brother, Sister and Mom while you keep watch from up above, even tho things will never be the same."
