Las Vegas, NV — A tragic incident in a Las Vegas apartment resulted in the death of a 15-year-old runaway from North Dakota, authorities reported. The teenager was fatally shot while an 18-year-old acquaintance was allegedly displaying a firearm during a video call. The suspected shooter, Browdy Lee Shaffer, has been charged with murder following the events that unfolded on September 4.
According to police, the incident occurred on September 2, inside an apartment where James Lobue, the victim, was temporarily staying. A police arrest report revealed that Lobue was discovered with a gunshot wound to the torso and was promptly rushed to a nearby hospital. Despite immediate surgical intervention, Lobue succumbed to his injuries.
At the time police arrived at the scene, two adults and three juveniles were present in the apartment. Body-worn camera footage captured several juveniles fleeing the location as officers approached.
The circumstances leading to the shooting involved Shaffer arriving at the apartment with a semiautomatic pistol, purportedly to confront a man who had earlier thrown water on his brother, waking him and another boy who had slept in the living room. Tensions escalated the next day when Shaffer started to “play-fight” with his brother and Lobue in one of the bedrooms.
During this altercation, Shaffer made a FaceTime call to a girl, showcasing his firearm equipped with a flashlight and laser. It was during this call that a loud discharge was heard. In the ensuing chaos, Lobue managed to get to the apartment’s front door before collapsing.
While everyone else fled the scene, Shaffer attempted to assist Lobue but eventually left the apartment before police arrival. According to the police report, Shaffer revisited the bedroom for an unknown reason and then left the scene.
The arrest report does not clarify if Shaffer has obtained legal representation following the incident. He was taken into custody two days post-incident and is currently held at the Clark County Detention Center. Efforts to reach any representatives for Shaffer have remained unanswered.
The Clark County Coroner cited multiple gunshot wounds to Lobue’s torso and arm as the cause of death. This incident has stirred concerns about youth access to firearms and the responsibilities of gun ownership among young adults.
This tragedy has raised questions about the circumstances under which juveniles with complex backgrounds find themselves in potentially dangerous situations, and the broader implications for community safety and gun control advocacy. The investigation is ongoing, with further details awaited as authorities piece together the events leading up to this fatal shooting.