In the spring of 2022, the life of 25-year-old Victor Lee Quitalig Boardley was abruptly cut short in a senseless act of violence in North Las Vegas, Nevada. On the morning of March 18, 2022, Boardley was fatally shot in the 4700 block of Boulder Bay Street. The Clark County coroner's office would later confirm that he died from a gunshot wound to the chest.
A former student at Mojave High School, where he excelled in volleyball, and the College of Southern Nevada, Boardley was remembered for his involvement in the Black Student Association and as a loving father to his son.
The events leading to Boardley's tragic death were captured on multiple security cameras in the neighborhood. The footage showed a struggle between Boardley and another individual, culminating in the firing of a semi-automatic pistol. After being shot, Boardley was seen running down the street before collapsing. He was discovered on the ground, having succumbed to his injuries. The investigation into his death quickly pointed to a suspect known in the area for a history of altercations.
Law enforcement identified 30-year-old Javier Benitez as the man responsible for Boardley's death. Security footage from the morning of the incident reportedly showed Benitez interacting with another man shortly before his fatal encounter with Boardley. Described as schizophrenic, Benitez was known to be without a phone or a car. Following the shooting, the North Las Vegas Police SWAT team executed a search warrant at the home where Benitez resided and took him into custody.
Javier Benitez was subsequently arrested and charged with murder with the use of a deadly weapon. He was booked at the North Las Vegas Detention Center before being transferred to the Clark County Detention Center, where he was held without bail. His first court appearance was scheduled for May 12, 2022, as the legal proceedings in the case of Victor Lee Boardley's untimely death began.
