On February 2, 2018, James Lewis, a 64-year-old homeless man, was fatally shot while he was sleeping under a bridge in Las Vegas, Nevada. The incident was part of a series of random shootings that targeted homeless individuals in the area. According to the Las Vegas Police and the coroner's office, Lewis was the fourth and final victim in these shootings, which occurred over several days.
The shootings began on January 29, 2018, with the first victim being shot in a gas station-grocery
store parking lot. This victim was not homeless but was alone and shot randomly. Later the same day, a second victim was shot in front of a shopping center, and a third victim, who was homeless, was shot in the face. The surveillance video of Lewis's killing shows a dark-colored SUV, identified as a Hyundai Tucson, driving up and parking near where Lewis was sleeping. A man then exits the SUV, approaches Lewis, and shoots him before returning to the vehicle and driving away.
The Las Vegas Police were actively searching for the suspect, who was described as driving a Hyundai Tucson SUV. Captain Robert Plummer of the Las Vegas Police emphasized the urgency of capturing the suspect, stating, 'We must stop this man before he shoots and kills someone else.' The police confirmed that the same gun was used in all four shootings, indicating a single perpetrator.
The investigation led to the identification of Joshua Castellon, a 26-year-old man from Las Vegas, as the suspect. Castellon was facing charges of murder and attempted murder in connection with the shootings. The police and community were relieved when Castellon was apprehended, as the random nature of the shootings had sparked widespread fear among the homeless population and the general public.
Lewis's daughter, Oneida Lewis Baker, expressed her grief and outrage over her father's death, stating that the killer 'doesn't deserve freedom.' She highlighted the vulnerability of homeless individuals and the cruelty of targeting them. Baker also expressed her desire to confront her father's killer in court to ask why he committed such a heinous act.
The case underscored the vulnerability of the homeless community and the need for swift action to protect them from such violent crimes. The arrest and subsequent charges against Joshua Castellon brought some closure to the victims' families and the community, but it also served as a reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by homeless individuals in Las Vegas and elsewhere.
