The family of the Lee’s Discount Liquor clerk who was killed during a robbery Monday night is speaking with 8 News NOW.
The crime has shaken many in the community, and the victim’s brother says he thinks he knows why. Reggie Christensen says his brother Matthew Christensen was like many people who go to work every day.
“It just makes me think how scared my brother was,” said Reggie said.
Surveillance video shows what Matthew faced. The 24-year-old man was working at the Lee’s Discount Liquor near Warm Springs Road and Durango Drive Monday night when he was gunned down. Emergency responders took Matthew to University Medical Center, where he later died.
“It was just a real senseless act. It didn’t have to happen. It was pointless,” Reggie said.
At a press conference Tuesday afternoon, Metro Police Lt. Dan McGrath said the clerk complied with the robbers’ orders.
“They commit an armed robbery in a very heinous act, shoot a victim who was not resistant,” McGrath said.
Tuesday night, Reggie Christensen returned to the store where his brother was killed for a candlelight vigil.
“I think there is a lot of emotion going around with this: shock, disbelief, a lot of anger and sadness,” he said.
He said his brother Matthew was the life of the party and a hard worker. He says Matthew worked at the liquor store for a few years and was preparing to leave for a new job.
“He was a brother, an uncle, a son,” Reggie said. “He was just an all-around special person. It’s just a shame that he was taken away for no reason whatsoever.”
While police search for the suspects, Reggie had a few words for the suspects.
“You killed a person for nothing, for some measly dollars. You destroyed a family. You destroyed your families. You’re going to get caught regardless, period,” he said.
Matthew Christensen’s parents traveled to Las Vegas from Arizona when they heard the news, but did not have a chance to say goodbye.
They are planning a service for Matthew. Nothing has been finalized, but they may bring him back to Arizona.
The suspects remain at large. Police are seeking three suspects.
The first suspect is a black male adult in his 20s who stands approximately 6’0” and weighs approximately 180 lbs. He was last seen wearing a white, zip-up hoodie over a gray hoodie, grey sweatpants and dark high-top sneakers.
The second suspect is described as a black male adult in his 20s who stands approximately 6’0” and weighs 180 lbs. He was last seen wearing a black UNLV hoodie, jeans and red shoes.
The third suspect is a black male adult in his 20s who stands approximately 5’8” to 6’0” tall and weighs approximately 250 lbs. He was seen wearing a greenish hoodie.
Metro Police are also looking for a woman who was in the store at the time of the robbery and shooting. She is described as a black female adult who stands approximately 5’6” tall and weighs approximately 160 lbs. She was last seen wearing an aqua colored tank-top and black pants. Investigators have not yet identified her as a suspect.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555.
