Video shows Las Vegas teen shooter hanging out car window during deadly drive-by
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Shocking video the 8 News Now Investigators obtained shows a teenager hanging out of and shooting from a car window during a drive-by that claimed the life of a mother.
The shooting happened on April 23, 2023, in the south valley as Shawna McCowan, 43, was walking dogs with a friend. Shawna McCowan split her time between Aurora, Colorado, where she worked as a teacher; and Las Vegas, the hub for her United Airlines job, her sister, Autumn McCowan said.
“I would just tell her, I’m very sorry that this happened to you,” Autumn McCowan said.
The shooting followed an earlier fight between two teenagers at a nearby apartment complex, documents said. One teenager had accused another of stealing his ghost gun. Police said they later found the gun near the apartment building and matched it to the shooting.
Shawna McCowan leaves behind a husband, son and a large group of family and friends, Autumn McCowan said.
“She could literally find a way to speak to anybody about anything,” Autumn McCowan said.
Video the 8 News Now Investigators obtained shows Shawna McCowan and her friend walking dogs on Bella Lante Avenue near Valley View Boulevard and Cactus Avenue in the south valley. The surveillance video was taken from a home in the area.
The video shows Shawna McCowan and the man walking up the street. Moments later, a car with its headlights off comes toward the camera. As the car moves nearer, two other people are seen running down the street.
As the car comes closer to the camera, the shooter is seen hanging out of a window, firing into the street. Of the 19 projectiles, one would hit and kill Shawna McCowan. No one else was injured.
“I just don’t think people understand that magnitude of their actions sometimes,” Autumn McCowan said.
Police said Tyshean Tillman, 19, was driving as Kevin Perez-Stubbs, 16, shot McCowan, killing her, documents said. Kevin Perez-Stubbs was 15 at the time of his arrest. Two other teenagers: Mezarius Finch, 17; and Johnathan Perez-Stubbs, 20, were also in the car, prosecutors said.
Tillman, Finch and the elder Perez-Stubbs have taken plea deals in the case, records said. The details of the pleas were sealed as of Wednesday and it was unclear if and when they could be sentenced.
Kevin Perez-Stubbs faces charges including murder and conspiracy to commit murder, records said. His trial was scheduled to begin in June.
Prosecutors obtained videos of Kevin Perez-Stubbs with the stolen ghost gun – one either assembled at home or with its serial number obliterated – on social media, they said.
Autumn McCowan said she plans to attend the trial.
“To show up and to be that spokesperson for my family and voice the impact that it’s had and be able to look this person or these people in the eye in this case and let them know I hope they know the weight of their actions and actually what it causes,” she said.
Police arrested Kevin Perez-Stubbs in May. His name was not made public at the time due to his age. The arrests of his brother and Finch happened in October, almost five months later, 8 News Now first reported. Police arrested Tillman in January.
In the days and weeks after the murder, Kevin Perez-Stubbs allegedly searched for news articles about Shawna McCowan’s death, prosecutors said.
Should a jury convict Kevin Perez-Stubbs, Nevada law stipulates a judge must provide parole eligibility in his sentence due to his age.
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