A 15-year-old victim was critically wounded near two schools, while another teenage girl was arrested and brought before a juvenile court.
LAS VEGAS, NV — A 15-year-old girl was critically wounded in a shooting near two Las Vegas schools Thursday afternoon, and another 15-year-old girl was arrested in connection with the case and appeared in juvenile court on an attempted murder charge, according to police and local news reports.
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers responded at about 3:48 p.m. Oct. 1 to Mews Lane and Searles Avenue, near Eastern and Owens avenues. Officers found a female juvenile suffering from a gunshot wound, police said. Emergency medical personnel took her to a local hospital in critical condition. The shooting happened less than half a mile from Rancho High School and next to Bracken Elementary School.
Police initially said the person responsible for the shooting had fled before officers arrived. By Friday morning, authorities said a female juvenile had been taken into custody. Police did not publicly identify either teenager because they are minors. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said its investigation remained underway and released few details about what led to the shooting.
KLAS-TV’s 8 News Now Investigators reported that the wounded girl had been walking home from school and was shot in the face. During a juvenile court appearance Friday, a prosecutor said the 15-year-old suspect used a shotgun and that the victim was in a coma at a local hospital. Those additional details were reported from the court proceeding and had not been included in the limited public information released by police.
Kathryn Roszko, who told KLAS she encountered children seeking help immediately after the shooting, said the victim’s brother and another boy were on the sidewalk when she arrived. Roszko said a police officer reached the scene at about the same time and began helping the wounded girl while she stayed with the children. The teenagers told Roszko that an altercation involving two groups had started near a McDonald’s before moving into the neighborhood.
Roszko said the children described the confrontation as escalating when a gun was displayed, prompting people to run. She also told KLAS that witnesses had recorded the suspected shooter on a cellphone. Police have not publicly provided a detailed account of the confrontation or confirmed a motive, and authorities have not released evidence from the investigation.
The shooting prompted a message to Rancho High School families acknowledging the police investigation near Eastern and Searles avenues. School officials said the incident happened near homes within the school’s attendance area and could affect students. The school said counseling resources would be available to students who needed assistance. The district referred questions about the criminal investigation to Las Vegas police.
Other local reports confirmed that the victim was a juvenile in critical condition and that a female juvenile had been arrested. FOX5 reported that officers performed lifesaving measures before paramedics took the girl to a hospital. KTNV and KSNV also reported the arrest Friday, while noting that authorities had not publicly disclosed further details about the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
The attempted murder allegation remains a charge, and the teenage suspect has not been found guilty. Because the case involves juveniles, publicly available information about the court proceeding and the identities of those involved is limited. Authorities had not announced additional arrests or publicly identified a motive as of the latest reports reviewed.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department continued to investigate the shooting. The victim’s most recently reported condition was critical, while KLAS reported in its court coverage that she was in a coma. Police had not publicly announced a later medical update or released additional information about what investigators believe led to the gunfire.
Author note: Last updated Oct. 4, 2026.