Cresencio Flores-Falas

An argument that turned violent inside a Las Vegas home on a Wednesday afternoon ended the life of 61-year-old Cresencio Flores-Falas on November 18, 2015. Mr. Flores-Falas, a Hispanic male, was fatally shot in what investigators believe was a dispute with a man he knew. The killing took place inside a residence at 1024 Jessica Avenue, in a neighborhood situated between East Charleston Boulevard and Maryland Parkway, not far from the Huntridge Circle Park area.

The incident unfolded around 2 p.m. when a neighbor was startled by the sounds of a heated argument between two men, followed by two distinct gunshots. That neighbor’s call brought officers from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department to the modest single-story home. Upon arrival, they discovered a tragic scene. Mr. Flores-Falas was found unresponsive in the doorway of the house, suffering from what appeared to be gunshot wounds. Medical personnel could do nothing for him, and he was pronounced deceased at the scene. The Clark County Coroner’s Office later conducted an autopsy and officially determined that his cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds to the head and neck.

LVMPD homicide detectives immediately took over the investigation. According to homicide Sgt. Jon Scott, evidence at the scene suggested the verbal altercation had escalated into a physical struggle just before the fatal shots were fired. Based on their initial findings, investigators quickly concluded that this was not a random act of violence and that the victim and his killer were acquainted. Within 24 hours of the shooting, the police department publicly identified their suspect as 32-year-old Omar Valencia-Garcia, a resident of Las Vegas.

Having identified their person of interest, detectives secured an arrest warrant for Valencia-Garcia on two felony charges: murder with a deadly weapon and robbery with a deadly weapon. A photograph of the suspect was released to the media as police began the search for him. Despite the rapid progress in identifying a suspect, locating him proved to be a significant challenge. The trail seemed to go cold, and Valencia-Garcia seemingly vanished after the shooting.

Two months later, in late January 2016, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department renewed its efforts by turning to the public for help. The department issued a press release asking for assistance in locating Omar Valencia-Garcia, stating that the motive for the deadly confrontation remained unknown. Detectives urged anyone who knew of his whereabouts or had any recent contact with him to come forward with information. At the time of the public plea, Valencia-Garcia was considered a fugitive from justice.

In the years since police asked for the community's help, no public announcements of an arrest have been made in connection with the murder of Cresencio Flores-Falas. The case remains open and unresolved within the LVMPD Homicide Section. As of the last public updates in early 2016, Omar Valencia-Garcia was still wanted and at large.

Authorities continue to seek information that could lead to a resolution in this case. Anyone with information is asked to contact the LVMPD Homicide Section at 702-828-3521 or by email at [email protected]. To remain anonymous, individuals can provide tips to Crime Stoppers of Nevada at 702-385-5555 or through their website, crimestoppersofnv.com. Tips that lead directly to an arrest or indictment in the case may be eligible for a cash reward.