LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A Las Vegas man is facing charges for allegedly planning a murder to settle an unpaid drug debt and getting two 15-year-olds to carry out the crime, according to the arrest report.
Las Vegas Metropolitan police arrested David Rodriguez-Kepple, 28, on Wednesday, May 17, three months after a shooting that claimed the life of 46-year-old Carlos Martinez on Feb. 10.
The teens, Robert Farabee and Landon Richards, who have been certified by the court as adults, are accused in the killing of Martinez who was shot multiple times as he stood in the garage of an east valley home on Los Feliz Street near Lake Mead Boulevard. As it turns out, the intended victim is believed to have been Martinez’s stepson who left the garage moments before the shooting, according to an arrest report.
Martinez’s stepson told police he was fronted $400 worth of marijuana from a man later identified by police as Rodriguez but he never paid for the marijuana.
The teens were arrested two weeks after the shooting after police received tips about the shooting. According to the arrest report, Rodriguez was running an illegal drug business out of his garage. Farrabe, a homeless teen, had been living with Rodriquez for the past year and dealing drugs and narcotics in exchange for his room and board and Richards was delivering drugs.
The arrest report stated Rodriguez “egged” the teens on to help take care of the person who owed him money and he also threatened to throw Farrabe out of the house.
Police said Rodriguez believed Farabee and Richards were “taking the fall” for the murder.
Rodriguez is facing charges of murder with the use of a deadly weapon, conspiracy to commit murder, and four counts of possessing drugs with intent to sell them, according to court records.
Rodriguez is being held at the Clark County Detention Center.
