Xavier D. Steen Jr., a 34-year-old resident of Henderson, Nevada, met a tragic end on January 1, 2021, in a incident that involved a car crash and a subsequent shooting. The events unfolded early in the morning at the intersection of Sunset Road and Valle Verde Drive. According to the Henderson Police Department, officers were called to the scene around 6:30 a.m. after reports of a car crash and gunshots. Upon arrival, they found Steen suffering from gunshot wounds to his legs.
He was immediately transported to Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, where he later succumbed to his injuries on January 15, 2021. The Clark County Coroner's Office ruled his death a homicide due to complications from the gunshot wounds in his lower extremities.
The incident began when Steen, driving a Ford Fusion, was rear-ended by another vehicle, described as a dark-colored Nissan. Both drivers pulled over to exchange information, but the situation escalated when the driver of the Nissan became irate and pulled out a firearm, firing multiple rounds at Steen. The Nissan's driver then fled the scene before police arrived, leaving Steen critically injured.
In the aftermath of the shooting, Steen was able to provide crucial information to the authorities. Despite his severe injuries, he managed to call 911 and gave a partial license plate number of the gunman's car. He also described the vehicle as a black Nissan sedan with a woman in the passenger seat. Two days after the shooting, Steen was able to speak with police again, providing a detailed description of the shooter and the car. This information was pivotal in the investigation.
The investigation involved extensive efforts by the Henderson Police Department. They canvassed the area for surveillance cameras and found video footage from nearby businesses that showed a car matching the description provided by Steen. The video helped police determine the path of travel of the suspect's vehicle toward Boulder Highway. In March 2022, detectives obtained search warrants for cell tower records from five different locations, which led to the identification of three phone numbers that connected to all five locations. One of these numbers was linked to a police incident from August 2021 involving a woman and her boyfriend, Marquis White.
Marquis White, 29, was identified as the primary suspect in Steen's murder. Photos of White and the woman matched the descriptions Steen had provided. Additionally, a 2009 Nissan sedan was registered in the woman's name at the time of the shooting, and the license plate number matched the partial plate Steen had given in his 911 call. White also had a previous DUI arrest in February 2021 in a Nissan sedan with the same license plate number, further solidifying the connection.
On November 2, 2022, Marquis White was taken into custody on an outstanding bench warrant from Henderson Municipal Court. During his interrogation, White admitted to detectives that he had fired a gun into the air to scare Steen, who he claimed was threatening to have his friends come to the location. White is currently being held without bail at the Clark County Detention Center on charges of open murder with a deadly weapon and violating parole or the conditions of a suspended sentence.
White's arrest marked a significant development in the case, bringing closure to the investigation that had spanned nearly two years. His admission and the cumulative evidence gathered by the police underscored the meticulous work involved in solving the homicide of Xavier D. Steen Jr..
