On the morning of December 11, 2023, around 10 a.m., Marvin Ray Patterson (42) shot his wife Schinara Patterson (34) and three children inside a Las Vegas apartment (Loreto & Palacio Apartments, 7545 Oso Blanca Road, Centennial Hills, Clark County) before fatally shooting himself in a murder-suicide. Two children died of gunshot wounds to the head — Ki'Ziah Cone (14) and Zi'Myra Patterson (6), both ruled homicides — while an 11-year-old boy was transported to the hospital in critical/agonal condition (a near-fatality). At the time, Patterson was on house arrest awaiting an April 2024 trial on nine felony child sex crime charges; his bail had been reduced from $100,000 to $10,000 over the DA's objection. CPS had prior history with the family, including a 2022 report in which an allegation of abuse was substantiated before the case closed.
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 - an adult female and three juveniles - before shooting himself." The Review-Journal reports Marvin Patterson "shot a woman and three children before turning the gun on himself."
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 children sustained inflicted firearm injuries. The coroner data in the 8 News Now article lists "Multiple gunshot wounds of head" and "Gunshot wound of head" for the child victims, and the fatality report states a 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?
All sources describe a murder-suicide. The fatality report references "information regarding a murder-suicide," and the 8 News Now article identifies the manner of death of Marvin Ray Patterson as "Suicide" after killing the others ("Homicide").
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 NewsNation article states Patterson "was accused of sex crimes against children" 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." The 8 News Now article corroborates these charges. It is unclear whether the deceased children were the victims, but sexual abuse of children is affirmatively referenced.
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
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 NewsNation article states Patterson "had a wife and three children," and victim Zi'Myra Patterson (6) shares his surname, indicating he was the biological father of at least one of the child victims he shot. The fatality report confirms the male family member "shot four other family members... three juveniles."
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)?
Victim Ki'Ziah Cone (14) carries a different surname (Cone) than the shooter Marvin Ray Patterson and the mother Schinara Patterson, suggesting Patterson was her stepfather/mother's husband rather than biological father. He shot all the children, so a stepfather figure was the perpetrator.
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 documents prior CPS history: "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... 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 fatal incident was an act of intrafamily violence in which a husband/father figure shot his wife and children: the fatality report states "An adult male family member shot four other family members - an adult female and three juveniles - before shooting himself." This constitutes domestic violence by a caregiver.
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?
Patterson had a prior pending criminal case predating the shooting: the NewsNation article states he "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..." with a jury trial scheduled for April 2024, and was on house arrest at the time of the incident.
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
A significant systemic/legal issue is documented: the shooter was on house arrest awaiting trial on nine felony child sex crime charges and had been released on greatly reduced bail. The Review-Journal reports "His initial bail of $100,000 was reduced to $10,000 a year ago" and quotes DA Steve Wolfson saying "We argued strenuously against the bail reduction." 8 News Now notes "Judge Diana Sullivan reduced the monetary bail to $10,000" and that she "declined to comment," while the victim's mother stated, "If he would have been in jail none of this would have happened." This raises pretrial release/bail policy concerns directly relevant to child safety legislation.
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