Randy William Griffin, a 31-year-old White man from Henderson, Nevada, was fatally shot on March 26, 2019, while riding his bicycle through a residential neighborhood in southeast Las Vegas. What began as an ordinary evening ended in violence when Griffin and another man encountered a group of individuals walking along Sacks Drive, near East Tropicana Avenue and South Nellis Boulevard. One of the men allegedly produced a rifle and opened fire as the bicyclists attempted to escape.
Griffin was struck by gunfire and later died at a hospital, leaving behind two children, grieving family members, and friends who remembered him for his kindness, generosity, and outgoing personality.
Griffin was born on November 9, 1987, at University Medical Center in Las Vegas to Wayne Griffin Jr. and Angela McArdle. He attended schools in Southern Nevada and New Jersey, where he acquired the nickname "Kid Vegas." The nickname followed him back to Nevada, becoming a familiar way for friends to address him. Throughout his life, Griffin developed a reputation for being outgoing, hardworking, and willing to help others. He worked in retail, where his friendly personality served him well, but he particularly enjoyed performing odd jobs that allowed him to work with his hands. His family described him as someone who could repair nearly anything and who frequently helped people struggling with tasks they could not accomplish themselves.
Outside of work, Griffin had a passion for music, athletics, and outdoor activities. He enjoyed singing, songwriting, and producing his own music, creating numerous songs that reflected his creativity. He was also an enthusiastic basketball player and enjoyed playing disc golf. Skateboarding and bicycling were among his favorite activities, and his family recalled his natural athletic ability and talent for performing impressive tricks. Those who knew him remembered a generous individual who found satisfaction in helping others and maintaining connections with the people around him.
On the evening of March 26, 2019, Griffin was riding his bicycle with another man in the 4800 block of Sacks Drive, just north of Tropicana Avenue. According to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the two encountered several men walking along the street. During the encounter, one member of the group allegedly pulled out a rifle and began shooting toward the bicyclists. Griffin and his companion attempted to pedal away from the gunfire, but Griffin was struck in the torso. His companion escaped without being physically injured.
At approximately 10:53 p.m., Las Vegas Metropolitan Police officers were dispatched to the neighborhood following reports of a shooting. When officers arrived, they discovered Griffin lying in the roadway suffering from a gunshot wound. Emergency personnel transported him to Sunrise Hospital Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. The Clark County Coroner's Office subsequently determined that Griffin died from a gunshot wound to the torso and classified his death as a homicide. The individuals involved in the confrontation had fled before officers reached the scene.
Detectives with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department's Homicide Section began investigating the circumstances surrounding Griffin's death. Investigators interviewed witnesses, examined the events preceding the shooting, and worked to identify the person responsible. Authorities also explored the possibility that an earlier confrontation between Griffin and the suspected shooter, reportedly occurring several days before the homicide, might have been connected to the violence. However, the available reporting did not establish a definitive motive or explain the circumstances of the suspected earlier dispute.
As the investigation progressed, detectives identified Kejuan Davis, who was 21 years old at the time, as the suspected gunman. Davis was accused of firing the rifle toward Griffin and his companion as they attempted to flee. Investigators obtained sufficient information to identify him as a suspect, although the publicly available reports did not provide a detailed account of the evidence linking him to the shooting.
A significant development occurred on April 10, 2019, approximately two weeks after Griffin's death. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police patrol officers responded to a reported fight in the 2500 block of South Las Vegas Boulevard, an area along the Las Vegas Strip. During their investigation of that unrelated disturbance, officers encountered Davis and discovered that he had outstanding bench warrants associated with a separate matter. He was arrested on those warrants and transported to the Clark County Detention Center.
After learning that Davis was in custody, homicide detectives arranged for him to be additionally booked in connection with Griffin's killing. On April 11, 2019, authorities publicly announced that Davis had been arrested as a suspect in the March 26 shooting. He faced one count of murder for Griffin's death and one count of attempted murder involving the second bicyclist who survived the gunfire. At the time of his arrest, jail records also reflected separate allegations involving possession of a stolen vehicle and possession of forged money. Those additional allegations were reported independently of the homicide investigation.
The arrest represented a major development in the investigation, providing Griffin's family with the knowledge that police had identified and taken a suspect into custody. Nevertheless, an arrest and criminal charges do not establish guilt. Although contemporary news coverage confirmed Davis's arrest and the murder and attempted murder charges, the available reporting did not establish whether the homicide prosecution ultimately resulted in a guilty plea, trial verdict, dismissal, or prison sentence. No verified final disposition of the murder case could be determined from the publicly available information reviewed.
Griffin's death left an enduring absence in the lives of those who loved him. He was survived by his parents, his son Robert, his daughter Faith, four siblings, his grandmother, and numerous extended family members. His loved ones remembered him as someone with a generous heart, a love of music, and an extraordinary willingness to help anyone who needed assistance. A celebration of his life was held on April 4, 2019, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on South Cholla Street in Henderson.
The circumstances of Griffin's killing remain a painful reminder of how suddenly an act of violence can end a life. He was enjoying an activity he loved when an encounter on a neighborhood street turned deadly. Although investigators identified a suspect and made an arrest within weeks of the shooting, the publicly documented outcome of the subsequent criminal proceedings remains unclear. Beyond the police investigation and criminal charges, Griffin's story is that of a father, son, brother, musician, and friend whose life was cut short. His family remembered him above all as a kindhearted person whose compassion and willingness to help others formed an important part of the legacy he left behind.
