An aspiring football player’s life was tragically cut short in Las Vegas on the evening of January 14, 2017. Richard Nelson, an 18-year-old African-American male, was fatally shot while defending his older sister during a physical altercation. Nelson, a freshman and football player at Missouri State University, was home on winter break at the time of the incident.
The confrontation occurred outside his family's home on Sacks Drive.
According to reports, Nelson intervened in a fight involving his sister, Oniesha Coleman, and several other individuals. Witnesses stated that he was attempting to pull people away from his sister when he was shot multiple times. His mother, Roxanne Bruce, recounted the heart-wrenching experience of her son dying in her arms. Nelson was transported to Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead from multiple gunshot wounds, including three to the back and one to the chest.
The investigation into the shooting quickly identified a 17-year-old suspect, Richard Allan Newsome Jr. Police indicated that the suspect was known to the family. Newsome and his mother, Tianna Douglas, who was also present at the scene, fled in a vehicle after the shooting. A few days later, both Newsome and his mother, also identified as Tianna Thomas, surrendered to police.
Richard Newsome Jr. was charged as an adult with murder with a deadly weapon. His mother faced a charge of being an accessory to murder for allegedly driving her son away from the scene. In February 2018, the legal proceedings concluded with sentencing. Richard Newsome Jr., then 18, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder with a deadly weapon and was sentenced to 18 years to life in prison. His mother, Tianna Douglas, was sentenced to one year in jail for her role as an accessory. Before his sentencing, Newsome read a letter in court asking for the Nelson family's forgiveness.
