In the spring of 2016, a life was abruptly cut short in Las Vegas. Derrick Parks, a 46-year-old Black / African American man, was found slain on the evening of Thursday, April 14th. His body was discovered in the 2100 block of Ballard Drive, located near the intersection of Eastern Avenue and Charleston Boulevard. An autopsy would later confirm that he had died from multiple gunshot wounds.
The investigation into the death of Derrick Parks quickly led Metro Police to a suspect.
According to police reports, Parks had been involved in an argument with 22-year-old Dakuan Thomas. The verbal altercation escalated tragically when Thomas allegedly brandished a weapon and fired multiple shots, fatally wounding Parks.
Within a few hours of the deadly encounter, law enforcement located and apprehended Dakuan Thomas. He was taken into custody and subsequently booked at the Clark County Detention Center. Thomas faced the serious charge of one count of first-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of Derrick Parks.
