No Bail for Las Vegas Teen Accused of Shocking Shooting at Undercover Police Vehicle

A chilling incident in Las Vegas has led to a judge denying bail for a 17-year-old accused of a brazen attack on law enforcement. Kevin Garcia, charged as an adult with attempted murder, will remain in custody after allegedly opening fire on an unmarked police vehicle, putting two detectives' lives in immediate jeopardy.

The dramatic court decision, handed down by Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Joseph Sciscento, underscored the gravity of the charges Garcia faces.

Sciscento cited Garcia as a potential danger to the community, opting for no bail despite arguments from the defense regarding his minor status, emphasizing the seriousness of the alleged crime.

The harrowing incident unfolded on July 19, when two detectives from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department's Narcotics Section of the Criminal Investigations Division were conducting surveillance in an alley near Desert Inn Road and Nellis Boulevard.

They were actively investigating a robbery and were in an unmarked vehicle when they encountered Garcia and another individual.

According to police reports, Garcia allegedly produced a firearm and fired multiple shots directly at the detectives' vehicle. The officers, remarkably, did not return fire, averting a potentially even more dangerous escalation.

Both detectives, whose identities have not been released, were unharmed, but the close call highlights the inherent dangers faced by law enforcement personnel.

During Tuesday's court appearance, public defender Drew Christensen argued vigorously that Garcia, being a minor, should be treated differently.

Christensen highlighted Garcia's age and requested that a bail amount be set, stressing the defendant's status as a juvenile despite being charged in an adult court. However, Chief Deputy District Attorney Danielle Oehler countered forcefully, asserting that Garcia poses a significant threat to public safety and therefore, bail should not be granted.

Prosecutors presented compelling evidence, including surveillance video footage that allegedly captured the shooting, further bolstering their case against Garcia.

Multiple shell casings were also reportedly recovered from the scene, linking Garcia to the discharge of the firearm. These pieces of evidence painted a grim picture of the events that transpired in the alley.

Garcia faces severe charges, including two counts of attempted murder with a deadly weapon, two counts of discharging a firearm into an occupied vehicle, and one count of assault with a deadly weapon.

The decision to charge him as an adult reflects the extreme seriousness with which authorities are treating this alleged crime. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on August 15, where more details of the investigation are expected to emerge as the legal process moves forward.