On December 11, 2023, Ki'Ziah Cone, a 14-year-old girl, was shot and killed in a murder-suicide at an apartment on the 7500 block of Oso Blanca Road in northwest Las Vegas, Nevada. The perpetrator, Marvin Ray Patterson, 42, shot four family members — adult female Schinara Patterson, 34, and three children — before fatally shooting himself. Ki'Ziah and 6-year-old Zi'Myra Patterson were killed; an 11-year-old boy survived in critical condition. Ki'Ziah died from multiple gunshot wounds of the head. At the time of the shooting, Patterson was on house arrest with an ankle monitor, having been charged with nine felony sex crime counts against children. His bail had been reduced from $100,000 to $10,000. The family had a prior CPS history including a substantiated abuse allegation from July 2022 that was closed after referrals to community resources.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
The fatality report states "An adult male family member shot four other family members" and the news article identifies all victims' causes of death as gunshot wounds. The news article also states officers "found five people with gunshot wounds."
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
The news article identifies Ki'Ziah Cone's cause of death as "Multiple gunshot wounds of head." The fatality report states "An adult male family member shot four other family members."
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
The fatality report explicitly states: "CCDFS received information regarding a murder-suicide." The news article headline and body describe the event as a "murder-suicide" with Marvin Patterson identified as the shooter who killed himself after shooting the other family members.
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
The news article explicitly states that Marvin Patterson "was accused of sex crimes against children" and was charged with "five counts of lewdness with a child under the age of 14, two counts of sexual assault with a minor under 16 years of age, one count of lewdness with a child under the age of 16, and one count of first-degree kidnapping of a minor. The crimes were alleged to have taken place from 2013 to 2022." The fatality report also notes a prior CPS investigation in July 2022 where "an allegation of abuse was found substantiated."
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
The news article states Patterson was charged with nine felony sex crime counts against children with "crimes alleged to have taken place from 2013 to 2022," spanning approximately nine years. This constitutes a prolonged pattern of depraved behavior against children. However, the text does not explicitly confirm that Ki'Ziah Cone was among the specific victims of these sex crimes, though the household context and CPS substantiation of abuse in July 2022 suggest the children in the home may have been victims.
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
The perpetrator Marvin Ray Patterson shared the surname "Patterson" with victim Zi'Myra Patterson (Child #2, age 6), strongly suggesting he was her biological father. The fatality report describes the shooter as "an adult male family member." While Ki'Ziah Cone (Child #1) has a different surname suggesting a different biological father, Marvin appears to have been the biological father of at least one child victim in this incident.
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Ki'Ziah Cone's surname differs from both Marvin Ray Patterson (the shooter) and Schinara Patterson (the adult female victim/mother), suggesting Marvin was not Ki'Ziah's biological father. Given that Schinara and Marvin shared the surname Patterson, Marvin was likely a stepfather or the mother's partner in relation to Ki'Ziah. The fatality report describes him as "an adult male family member." The question's examples explicitly include 'stepfather' as a male paramour/friend.
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
The fatality report explicitly states: "7/11/2022 – A report was received alleging abuse and neglect. Upon conclusion of the requisite investigation, allegations of neglect were found unsubstantiated and an allegation of abuse was found substantiated. Based on assessment, the family was referred to a community resource for services... At the conclusion of the case, the minors were determined to be safe, and the case closed 11/22/2022."
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The murder-suicide event itself constitutes an extreme act of domestic violence — a family member shooting other family members in the home. The fatality report states "An adult male family member shot four other family members." Additionally, the prior CPS investigation in July 2022 found "an allegation of abuse was found substantiated," suggesting a pattern of violence in the household predating the fatal event.
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
The news article states: "Patterson was arrested in October of 2022" and was charged with "nine felony charges, including five counts of lewdness with a child under the age of 14, two counts of sexual assault with a minor under 16 years of age, one count of lewdness with a child under the age of 16, and one count of first-degree kidnapping of a minor." These charges predate the December 11, 2023 murder-suicide and constitute prior criminal history. He was on house arrest with an ankle monitor at the time of the fatal incident.
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
The news article reveals several significant systemic issues. Marvin Patterson was charged with nine felony sex crime counts against children (spanning 2013-2022) but had his bail reduced from $100,000 to $10,000 by Judge Diana Sullivan. Despite bail conditions that included an order to "stay away from children under the age of 18," Patterson was on house arrest with an ankle monitor in a home with three children. The victim's mother stated: "If he would have been in jail none of this would have happened. Where he was supposed to be, I don't think they should have let him out at all." Additionally, a July 2022 CPS investigation substantiated abuse but closed the case after referrals to community resources, and the children remained in the home. These details point to significant failures in both the judicial and child welfare systems.
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