Current:Home > Markets15-year-old North Dakota runaway shot, killed in Las Vegas while suspect FaceTimed girl -Ascend Finance Compass
15-year-old North Dakota runaway shot, killed in Las Vegas while suspect FaceTimed girl
View
Date:2025-04-11 13:04:41
A 15-year-old runaway from North Dakota was killed in a Las Vegas apartment while his suspected shooter was showing off his gun to a girl on FaceTime, police said.
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police charged Browdy Lee Shaffer, 18, with James Lobue's murder on Sept. 4. The boy was a runaway from Bismarck, North Dakota, according to a police arrest report obtained by USA TODAY.
Officers found James on Sept. 2 lying inside the apartment from a gunshot wound to the torso, the report says. He was then taken to a hospital for emergency surgery, but despite the efforts of medical personnel, he succumbed to his injuries, the document continued.
Two adults and three juveniles were in the residence when police responded, while body-worn camera video caught "a multitude of juveniles fleeing the apartment upon officer's arrival," according to the report.
It is unclear if Shaffer has a defense attorney.
Browdy Lee Shaffer came to apartment with semiautomatic pistol
A female juvenile in the apartment told police that James and another boy slept in the living room of the apartment the night before the shooting, the report says. Upset that the boys were in the living room, the girl's stepfather poured water on them and woke the pair up, prompting them to leave, the document continued.
The boys would ultimately come back and spend the night in the apartment. Shaffer, who had a semiautomatic pistol with him, came by the apartment the next day to confront the girl's stepfather about him pouring water on his brother, according to the report.
While at the apartment, Shaffer began "play-fighting" with his brother and James in a bedroom, the report says. He then made a FaceTime call to an unknown female and began showing her his gun by "illuminating the flashlight and laser," the document continued.
Loud 'pop' heard, everyone ran out of the apartment
At some point, Shaffer was standing next to James with the gun in his hand when a loud "pop" was heard, according to the report. Everyone then ran out of the room, including James, who collapsed at the front door of the apartment, police said in the report.
While everyone fled from the apartment, Shaffer attempted to help the dying teenager, the report says. Before the police arrived, he went back to the bedroom for an unknown reason and then fled the apartment, according to the document.
Police learned that Shaffer came over to the apartment to fight the girl's stepfather "in the street," the report says. Instead of fighting the stepfather, James died from gunshot wounds to his torso and arm, according to the report, citing the Clark County Coroner.
Shaffer was arrested on Sept. 4 and booked at the Clark County Detention Center.
veryGood! (6)
Related
- Juan Soto to be introduced by Mets at Citi Field after striking record $765 million, 15
- Former Venezuelan political prisoner arrested in Miami after a fatal hit-and-run crash, police say
- Dancing With the Stars Reveals Season 33 Cast: Anna Delvey, Jenn Tran, and More
- A man charged with killing 4 people on a Chicago-area L train is due in court
- NFL Week 15 picks straight up and against spread: Bills, Lions put No. 1 seed hopes on line
- Horoscopes Today, September 2, 2024
- 4 Las Vegas teens plead guilty in classmate’s deadly beating as part of plea deal
- Top 10 places to retire include cities in Florida, Minnesota, Ohio. See the 2024 rankings
- The 401(k) millionaires club keeps growing. We'll tell you how to join.
- Harris heads into Trump debate with lead, rising enthusiasm | The Excerpt
Ranking
- Rolling Loud 2024: Lineup, how to stream the world's largest hip hop music festival
- Elton John shares 'severe eye infection' has caused 'limited vision in one eye'
- School bus hits and kills Kentucky high school student
- Police say 11-year-old used 2 guns to kill former Louisiana mayor and his daughter
- California DMV apologizes for license plate that some say mocks Oct. 7 attack on Israel
- New Jersey floats $400 million in tax breaks to lure Philadelphia 76ers
- FACT FOCUS: Posts falsely claim video shows Harris promising to censor X and owner Elon Musk
- Harris heads into Trump debate with lead, rising enthusiasm | The Excerpt
Recommendation
IRS recovers $4.7 billion in back taxes and braces for cuts with Trump and GOP in power
US wheelchair basketball team blows out France, advances to semis
Oilers' Leon Draisaitl becomes highest-paid NHL player with $112 million deal
US Open: Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz will meet in an all-American semifinal in New York
The Daily Money: Spending more on holiday travel?
US Open: Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz will meet in an all-American semifinal in New York
Arkansas judge convicted of lying to feds about seeking sex with defendant’s girlfriend
Angels’ Ben Joyce throws a 105.5 mph fastball, 3rd-fastest pitch in the majors since at least 2008