In the early morning hours of August 29, 2021, the life of 23-year-old Kieron Hatchett, a Black male, was tragically cut short in a hail of gunfire in Las Vegas, Nevada. The incident, which also left three others injured, unfolded at the intersection of South Rainbow Boulevard and Westcliff Drive. Hatchett and his friends had been at an after-hours party at a local restaurant.
Following an altercation between employees that prompted many to leave, Hatchett and his companions stayed behind to help clean up before leaving in their vehicle.
Their departure, however, was not unnoticed. They were followed by another car. As they waited at a red light, the pursuing vehicle pulled alongside, and its occupants opened fire. The car carrying Hatchett was riddled with at least 16 bullets. Despite being wounded, one of the victims managed to drive them to MountainView Hospital. Due to the severity of their injuries, Hatchett and another man were transferred to Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center. Tragically, Kieron Hatchett succumbed to two gunshot wounds to the head later that day, and his death was ruled a homicide.
The investigation into the quadruple shooting soon pointed towards a retaliatory act. An anonymous tip, surveillance footage from nearby businesses, and Snapchat archives became instrumental in piecing together the events that led to the violence. The motive appeared to be retribution for a fatal altercation that had occurred on August 13, 2021. In that incident, De'Marcco Alexander, who was with Hatchett on the night of the shooting, had shot and killed Anthony Emilian in what was deemed an act of self-defense.
This earlier event set the stage for the deadly retaliation. Investigators discovered that Snapchat had been used to seek information about those involved in Emilian's death. On October 20, 2021, authorities arrested three suspects in connection with Kieron Hatchett's murder. The suspects were identified as Mateo Facio, 21, Exavian Diaz, 18, and Briana Matus, 20. Diaz was the brother of Anthony Emilian. The trio was charged with murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and three counts of attempted murder. It is alleged that Diaz relayed a photo of Alexander to Facio and Matus via Snapchat so they would know who to target. On the night of the shooting, Matus's vehicle was seen on video surveillance following Hatchett's car from the restaurant parking lot, culminating in the fatal encounter at the intersection. Police recovered 14 bullet casings from three different firearms at the scene of the crime.
