A promising young African-American and Samoan athlete's life was tragically cut short on November 1, 2007, in Las Vegas, Nevada. DeArney Austin, a 14-year-old male, was fatally shot while walking home with a friend in the early morning hours after attending a Halloween party. The eighth-grader at Brinley Middle School was known for his love of football, standing at six feet tall and weighing 180 pounds, with dreams of one day playing in the NFL.
The incident occurred around 1:30 a.m.
near the intersection of Rancho Drive and Decatur Boulevard. Austin and his 15-year-old friend were approached by a vehicle from which at least one assailant, described as a teenager, emerged. The individual robbed the two boys and reportedly questioned them about their gang affiliation. It was alleged that Austin claimed membership in a "hybrid gang" known as "Squad Up" just moments before he was shot multiple times. His friend was not physically harmed in the attack.
The family of DeArney Austin vehemently denied that he was involved in any gang activity, describing him as a respectful young man with an "aloha spirit," a nod to his Hawaiian heritage. They questioned the narrative provided by his friend, the sole witness to the crime. In the immediate aftermath, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department investigated the homicide, considering robbery as a possible motive while also exploring the gang-related line of inquiry. Investigators also looked into a potential connection between Austin's murder and another fatal shooting of a 19-year-old that had occurred about an hour earlier in North Las Vegas.
In the years following DeArney Austin's death, no arrests have been publicly announced in connection with his murder. The case has grown cold, leaving his family and the Las Vegas community without answers or justice for the violent end to a young life full of potential. The investigation remains open, a painful reminder of the unsolved crime that silenced a promising young voice.
