Police have issued an arrest warrant as investigators continue searching for a suspect accused in the fatal workplace shooting.
LAS VEGAS, Nev. — A Five Below employee was shot and killed while working at a northwest Las Vegas store on June 17 after a man entered the business and asked for him by name, according to police. Authorities have identified a suspect and issued an arrest warrant as the investigation continues.
The killing has drawn attention across the Las Vegas area because it happened during business hours inside a busy shopping center. Investigators say the shooting appears to have been a targeted confrontation rather than a random attack. A suspect has been named in court records, but police had not announced an arrest as of the latest public update. Family members are seeking answers while detectives continue reviewing evidence, witness accounts and surveillance footage.
Police said the incident unfolded shortly after 4:30 p.m. on June 17 at a Five Below store located in the Best in the West shopping center near North Rainbow Boulevard and West Lake Mead Boulevard. Investigators said a man entered the store and asked for 31-year-old employee Brandan Lucas. According to authorities, an encounter between the two escalated into a physical confrontation inside the store. Police said the suspect then pulled out a handgun and fired. Multiple people inside or near the business called 911 to report gunfire. Officers arrived and found Lucas suffering from gunshot wounds. Medical personnel pronounced him dead at the scene. The suspect had already left before police arrived. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Lt. Robert Price said investigators do not believe the public faces an ongoing threat connected to the case.
The shooting prompted a large police response at the shopping center as detectives secured the area, interviewed witnesses and collected evidence. Court records identified the suspect as David Nathaniel Vasquez. Records show an arrest warrant was issued on June 18, one day after the shooting. Authorities said Vasquez faces allegations that include open murder with the use of a deadly weapon, discharging a firearm within a structure in a prohibited area and carrying a concealed firearm without a permit. Investigators have released limited information about the events leading up to the confrontation. Family members told local media they believe text messages exchanged before the shooting may have played a role, but police have not confirmed that account. Authorities have stated only that the suspect entered the store specifically seeking Lucas before the confrontation turned violent. Detectives continue examining evidence gathered from the store, nearby businesses and witnesses who were present.
The case has resonated throughout the community because the shooting occurred in a workplace surrounded by active retail businesses and shoppers. The Five Below location sits within a commercial center frequented by families and customers throughout the day. Relatives said Lucas was carrying out his regular job duties when the confrontation began. The incident renewed discussion about violence in public-facing workplaces, particularly when employees become targets during normal business operations. The shooting also recalled another highly publicized workplace attack in Las Vegas less than two years earlier, when a gunman opened fire inside a Las Vegas Athletic Club, killing employee Edgar Quinonez and injuring three others before police shot the attacker. Investigators have not connected the two cases, but both incidents involved employees who were attacked while at work. Authorities have emphasized that current evidence points to a targeted dispute rather than a random act of violence.
The criminal case remains in its early stages because the suspect has not been publicly reported as being in custody. Legal proceedings cannot move forward to initial court appearances until an arrest occurs and the defendant is brought before a judge. Investigators are expected to continue reviewing surveillance recordings, witness statements and forensic evidence collected from the scene. Police have not announced a timeline for locating the suspect or provided additional details about a possible motive. The arrest warrant remains active, and law enforcement agencies continue searching for Vasquez. Officials have indicated that further information may become available once an arrest is made and court documents are filed. Until then, many questions surrounding the confrontation remain unanswered. Detectives have not disclosed whether additional witnesses have come forward or whether investigators recovered evidence linking the suspect directly to planning the encounter before arriving at the store.
Family members said the sudden nature of Lucas’ death has left relatives struggling to understand how an ordinary workday ended in tragedy. His cousin, Shekiera Wright, described the confusion and fear family members experienced after learning about the shooting. Wright said relatives initially believed Lucas might survive after receiving the first calls about the incident. As more information emerged, she said the reality became increasingly difficult to accept. Speaking about the circumstances surrounding the shooting, Wright said, “It shouldn’t have been that easy.” She said the violence permanently changed the lives of those who knew him. Friends and relatives continue to seek answers about how the confrontation developed and whether there were warning signs before the shooting. Five Below said it was cooperating with law enforcement and focusing on supporting employees affected by the incident. The company said it was heartbroken by the loss and remained committed to the safety of workers and customers.
The investigation remained active as authorities continued searching for the suspect named in the warrant. The next major development is expected to come when an arrest is made and the case proceeds to an initial court appearance, where additional details could become part of the public record.
Author note: Last updated June 22, 2026.