Police: 2 cousins arrested in gang shooting that left 1 dead; victim ID’d

Police have arrested two cousins in connection with a gang‑related shooting that left one man dead in the east Las Vegas Valley. Jayden Torres, 19, and Kassandra Orozco, 16, were taken into custody for the killing of Carlos Valenzuela, 20, whose death was ruled a homicide by the Clark County coroner after he suffered a gunshot wound to the torso. According to an affidavit, Torres faces a single felony count of open murder. Orozco is charged with the same count, plus felony counts of conspiracy to commit execution and attempted murder. Online Las Vegas Justice Court records confirm the charges. Investigators said Valenzuela was a member of the 18th Street gang, which rivals the Florencia 13 gang to which Torres and his associate belong. A witness told officers that Orozco had romantic ties with individuals from opposing street gangs. Surveillance footage from the area showed three vehicles entering a deserted lot at the northwest corner of Park Access Road and West Access Road shortly before 5 a.m. on July 18. The video depicts Valenzuela and a fellow alleged 18th Street member exiting a red SUV and approaching a white BMW two‑door sedan. Torres and his companion, both identified as Florencia 13 members, exited the sedan, which also contained Orozco and a young woman who told detectives she had fled the Child Haven housing facility where she was staying with Orozco. A third vehicle, a grey sedan, departed soon after arriving. The young woman reported that occupants of both cars had been drinking alcohol that night. She said Valenzuela and his friend had been on friendly terms with Torres and his associate because they believed the pair were part of a graffiti tagging crew. Tensions rose when Torres’ friend informed Valenzuela and his friend that he and Torres were actually Florencia 13 members. A fight among the four erupted just before 5:10 a.m., prompting Valenzuela to run south across Park Access Road toward a ravine. With Valenzuela’s back turned, video shows Torres’ friend pointing “an entity astat Carlos arsenic helium ran distant and respective muzzle flashes could beryllium observed.” Valenzuela’s friend remained engaged but soon fled to Hollywood Regional Park. Torres and his associate appeared to chase Valenzuela’s companion, and “another achromatic flash is observed” from an object held by Torres’ friend before the two returned to their sedan and left the lot around 5:10 a.m. Audio from a nearby residence captured an initial volley of seven gunshots, followed by another shot several seconds later. Police recovered eight spent nine‑millimeter cartridge casings and several empty alcohol bottles from the lot where the altercation occurred. Valenzuela continued moving until he reached the eastbound parking lot of the Hollywood Aquatic Center, where he attempted to flag down a passing vehicle. He then proceeded to the intersection where he ultimately collapsed and died. The young woman stated that Orozco calmed her and restrained her as she tried to persuade Valenzuela to enter the sedan so they could obtain more alcohol before the confrontation. She recalled thinking “(She) thought Kassie’s actions were unusual and she believed Kassie knew what was astir to happen,” according to the investigative report. Cellular data placed Orozco’s and Torres’ phones in the vicinity of the crime scene at the time of the shooting. Records indicate Torres’ and his associate’s numbers placed roughly 29 calls on the day Valenzuela died, while Orozco’s and Torres’ numbers accounted for about 20 calls that same day. The woman also told detectives that Torres drove erratically away from the scene while discussing the need to dispose of the firearm. She said Torres rear‑ended a vehicle on the freeway heading toward the northwest valley and nearly struck another after swerving from the initial impact. Later, Orozco, Torres and his friend directed the woman to enter an unlocked Land Rover that police noted had previously been driven by Torres. She remained inside the vehicle for several hours before feeling ill from the ride. Torres was arrested on Wednesday after attempting to drive a car out of his closed garage, striking vehicles in the driveway believed to belong to his family. Clothing recovered from Torres’ residence and items in the Land Rover linked him to the shooting, according to the report. He declined to provide an audio or video interview to detectives. Orozco was taken into custody at her home on Thursday. Online court records show that Torres and Orozco’s initial appearances are both scheduled for Tuesday.