On the night of November 4, 2021, Curtis Leon Abraham, a 35-year-old Black or African American male, was fatally shot in what has been described as a random and senseless act of violence in Las Vegas, Nevada. Abraham, a filmmaker originally from Baltimore, was waiting in his vehicle in the parking lot of a convenience store while his girlfriend was inside.
The events that followed were chaotic and tragic, cutting short a life his friends and family described as vibrant and full of creative energy.
A man, later identified as 22-year-old Jesus Javier Uribe, approached the scene dressed in a tactical vest and carrying a handgun. Without any apparent motive, Uribe began a violent rampage, first firing shots into an unoccupied vehicle. He then turned his attention to Abraham's car, shooting the filmmaker multiple times. Abraham was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead. The Clark County Coroner's Office later confirmed that he died from multiple gunshot wounds and ruled his death a homicide.
After shooting Abraham, Uribe entered the convenience store and continued to fire his weapon. Inside, Abraham's girlfriend, along with a store clerk, managed to hide in a refrigerator cooler to escape the gunfire. Other patrons fled out the back of the store. Miraculously, no one inside the business was injured by the shots. Uribe then took items from the store and fled the scene on foot, sparking a manhunt that lasted for more than 12 hours.
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police quickly released images of the suspect to the public, seeking help in his identification. A tip led them to a house in the southwest part of the city where Uribe was located and arrested. He was subsequently charged with numerous felonies, including murder, attempted murder, robbery, and burglary. Authorities have stated that Uribe and Abraham did not know each other, reinforcing the belief that the devastating attack was a random act. Uribe was held without bail pending court proceedings.
