In the summer of 2014, the life of 18-year-old Tyrell Melton, a Black male from Las Vegas, Nevada, was cut tragically short. On the night of July 3rd, Melton was standing with a group of friends in the 4800 block of Via Maria Court. The evening took a violent turn when shots were fired into the group. Melton was fatally wounded and pronounced dead at the scene. A 14-year-old girl who was with him was also struck by the gunfire but managed to flee to a nearby house for safety.
She was later taken to University Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.
The North Las Vegas Police Department launched an investigation into the shooting, which they believed to be the result of an argument that had occurred earlier in the evening and possibly gang-related. Their investigation led them to a suspect, 18-year-old Miquan Burton. Nearly two weeks after the shooting, on July 16, 2014, a warrant was issued for Burton's arrest. He was apprehended by police at an apartment in the 2900 block of Centennial Parkway.
Miquan Burton was taken into custody and booked at the Las Vegas Detention Center. He faced multiple serious charges, including murder with a deadly weapon, attempted murder, discharging a firearm into an occupied structure, and discharging a firearm from a vehicle. Authorities alleged that Burton had fired from a moving vehicle into the crowd of people that included Melton and the young girl. While an arrest was made, the investigation into the deadly shooting was said to be ongoing.
