On a summer evening in Henderson, Nevada, a tragedy unfolded that cut short the life of 48-year-old Crystal Turner, a Black woman from Van Nuys, California. On June 28, 2021, a distress call from a friend in fear for her life set in motion a devastating chain of events. The friend reported that her husband, Andre Andrews, was physically assaulting her and had brandished a gun.
In a selfless act of courage, Crystal Turner, accompanied by two young men, Billy Brown and Brian Washington, rushed to the home on Huntfield Drive to intervene and offer aid.
Their arrival, however, escalated the already volatile situation. Shortly after Turner, Brown, and Washington entered the residence, Andre Andrews opened fire, striking Crystal Turner in the face. In the ensuing chaos, Brown and Washington bravely attempted to disarm Andrews, a struggle during which both men sustained gunshot wounds to their torsos. The valiant effort to protect their friend and themselves ultimately could not save Turner, who succumbed to a fatal gunshot wound to the head. Her death was officially ruled a homicide by the Clark County coroner's office.
Henderson police responded to the scene at approximately 7:30 p.m. and quickly apprehended Andre Andrews, who was found with head injuries sustained during the physical altercation. A black revolver was recovered near him at the time of his arrest. Due to his injuries, which required him to be intubated at Sunrise Hospital, Andrews could not be immediately interviewed by investigators. Despite this, he was placed under arrest, and corrections officers were assigned to guard him at the hospital. Andre Andrews, 39 at the time, faced serious charges for his actions that night, including murder, domestic battery, and two counts of attempted murder.
