LAS VEGAS, NV — A man who was openly carrying a firearm was fatally shot with his own weapon after an erratic individual attempted to disarm him during a violent encounter at an AutoZone on East Charleston Boulevard.
On May 23, 2025, at approximately 4:48 p.m., Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers responded to a report of a shooting inside a business in the 1200 block of East Charleston Boulevard. Officers arrived to find a man suffering from a gunshot wound. Despite life-saving efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to police, the victim was standing in line to pay for items while openly carrying a firearm when 36-year-old Kyle Capucci entered the store behaving erratically. After a brief interaction with an employee, Capucci lunged for the victim’s firearm. A physical struggle followed, during which Capucci managed to gain control of the weapon and fatally shoot the victim. He fled the scene, leaving the firearm behind.
Responding officers located Capucci about a block away and arrested him without incident. He has been booked into the Clark County Detention Center on a charge of Open Murder with a Deadly Weapon.
The Clark County Coroner’s Office will release the victim’s identity and official cause of death. LVMPD continues to investigate and encourages anyone with information to contact their Homicide Section or Crime Stoppers of Nevada.
This tragic incident highlights a serious risk associated with open carry. While I strongly support the legal right to open carry—without question—it’s not how I personally choose to carry. I don’t want anyone, including criminals, to know I have a gun. Concealed carry gives me the element of surprise and keeps me from becoming a target, as sadly happened here. This is a stark reminder that situational awareness and discretion are vital components of personal defense.
