In the late afternoon hours of November 27, 2022, a tragic and violent sequence of events unfolded on the streets of West Las Vegas, culminating in the death of 43-year-old Black male, Clarence Harvey III. The day had been one of mourning and remembrance, as a gathering was held for William Hill Jr., a 54-year-old man who had been shot and killed just the day before.
It was at this very memorial that the seeds of further violence were sown, leading to a fatal confrontation.
According to police reports, Clarence Harvey attended the gathering for Hill. It was there that he allegedly encountered Jason Spellman, a 38-year-old man who was a close friend of the recently deceased Hill, considering him practically family. In a turn of events that would prove fatal, Harvey allegedly confessed to Spellman that he was responsible for Hill's death, claiming it was for "business opportunities." This admission ignited a rage in Spellman, who, upon seeing Harvey leave the memorial, decided to follow him.
As Harvey walked along the 1200 block of Hassell Avenue, not far from where Hill had been killed, Spellman is said to have driven his girlfriend's SUV towards him. The anger that had been building within Spellman erupted into a volley of gunfire. He allegedly shot at Harvey from the vehicle, even striking him with the SUV. After Harvey collapsed to the ground, Spellman reportedly made a U-turn, parked the vehicle, and fired at least one more shot before driving away from the scene. Harvey was rushed to University Medical Center, but his injuries were too severe, and he was pronounced dead.
The investigation into Harvey's murder moved swiftly. Witnesses provided police with a description of the SUV and its license plate number. This crucial information led detectives to an apartment complex on North Decatur Boulevard where they located the vehicle. They detained a woman who was driving the SUV, and she identified her boyfriend, Jason Spellman, as the person who had been using it earlier that day. Police then located and arrested Spellman at a nearby residence without incident. During an interview with detectives, Spellman recounted the events at the memorial, stating that Harvey's confession and a subsequent "disrespectful look" had fueled his anger and led to the deadly confrontation. Jason Spellman was booked into the Clark County Detention Center and charged with open murder with the use of a deadly weapon.
