SHOOTING

in an unattended backpack, which prompted a precautionary evacuation of businesses in the strip mall and surrounding area while p0lice checked the scene. No bomb was found, police said; they declared the scene safe at about 2:13 p.m.

Several witnesses identified the man as the shooter, McGrath said, adding that the suspect has a history of violent crime.

“He should not have a gun,” said McGrath, who noted the man also has some tattoos that appear to be gang-affiliated.

Since his arrest, the suspect, whose name has not been released, has been uncooperative and has given different versions of what happened and different explanations for why he shot the man, McGrath said.

Rainbow Boulevard was blocked off at Warm Springs until just before 3 p.m., when police allowed the north-south thoroughfare to reopen.

Police were expected to be at the scene for several more hours interviewing witnesses and investigating the scene inside the Starbucks, McGrath said at about 3:15 p.m.

Across the street from the Starbucks, friends and family stood behind police tape waiting for their loved ones to be released by police. Kristina Gebers sat inside a car with her daughter nearby as she waited for officers to finish questioning her 19-year-old son, an employee at the Starbucks. Gebers’ son and other witnesses were being questioned at the Soul Food Cafe, 7320 S. Rainbow Blvd.

“He called me and the first thing he said was, “Mom, don’t freak out,’” she said. “He’s a hero, I’m so proud of him. He just stayed so calm.”

She said her son, Will Wright, told her that he and another employee hid in the Starbucks’ management office after the gunman began shooting.

“All I could do was beg him to stay down,” she said. “I thought with all of my heart he was going to be in a shootout.”

Kim Plank said her 20-year-old daughter, Tenaya Zimmerman, also a worker at the Starbucks, jumped out of the drive-thru window after the first few shots were fired.

Gebers broke into tears as Wright stepped over the police tape.

“There he is, he’s OK,” she said, going to embrace him. “I am so, so proud of you.”

The incident marked the second deadly shooting to occur in the Las Vegas area Sunday morning. A man was killed in the Chinatown district earlier in the day. Contact Max Michor at mmichor@reviewjournal.com or702-383-0381. Find @MaxMichor on Twitter. Contact Rachel Hershkovitz at rhershkovitz@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0381. Follow @rzhershkovitz on Twitter.