LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – A man faces murder charges after police said an argument led to a deadly shooting near the downtown Las Vegas area.
Isaiah Branch, 25, was identified as the suspect and arrested on June 10 after police said they received multiple reports of a shooting at a home near Eastern Avenue and Charleston Boulevard.
Police later found Xzavier Maheia in the kitchen of the home with multiple apparent gunshot wounds. Detectives later determined that the shooting took place in the living room and then continued inside the kitchen, according to a police report.
Maheia had wounds to his chest, arms, and stomach area and multiple apparent gunshot wounds to the back of his leg, back. It was also reported that Branch left the scene in a black truck before police arrived, according to the report.
Police then received a call from Branch who stated he was a victim in the incident at the home. Branch then waited for police near Fremont Street.
When police interviewed Branch, he told them Maheia was his childhood friend who contacted him and stated that he was coming to Las Vegas and wanted to get together. Branch then said he and his girlfriend stopped by Maheia’s home and picked him up. The three then headed to a local liquor store where they purchased vodka and then drove back to Maheia’s home and parked across the street where they drank the bottle, the report stated.
According to Branch, he drank 50% of the bottle and he said he became extremely intoxicated, Maheia then drank the other 50% of the bottle, according to the police report. Branch then told police he had his gun with him and let Maheia see and handle his gun as they drank. After finishing the bottle of vodka the three then purchased a new bottle and went inside Maheia’s home, according to police.
Inside the home, Branch became ill and wanted said he wanted to leave. His girlfriend then left the home. Branch told police that Maheia took his cell phone and would not give it back and told him to stay the night, the police report stated.
Branch said he made his way to the living room and his girlfriend returned to the home and said she would not leave without him. Branch then said Maheia called his sister into the room and they both told Branch’s girlfriend to leave. When she refused Branch told police both Mahei and his sister started to attack his girlfriend with punches to the face, according to the police report.
Branch then told police he stood up and pulled Maheia off of his girlfriend and that is when he and Branch started to wrestle, both then fell to the kitchen floor, the report stated.
Branch told police that Maheia reached for the gun in Branch’s pocket and tried to pull it out but Branch prevented him from pulling it out, according to police. Branch then told police that Maheia then lunged at him causing him to fire the gun multiple times. Branch also told police he thought Maheia would try and fight him for the gun again. Instead, Maheia dropped to the floor after being shot, according to the police report.
After the shooting Branch told police he got in his car and drove to Fremont Street where an employee at a gas station called the police, according to the report.
Branch later told police he had a sexual relationship with Maheia back in 2022, according to the police report.
Maheia’s sister was also interviewed by police and told officers that her brother told her to tell Branch’s girlfriend that they would bring Branch out to her, before the fight, the report stated.
Maheia’s sister then told police that her brother became more aggressive and grabbed Branch by the leg in an attempt to pick him up or drag him out of the home, according to the report.
Maheia’s sister went on to tell police that when Branch’s girlfriend saw Maheia grabbing him she ran over and began punching him, according to the police report.
According to Maheia’s sister’s account to police, Branch pulled out a gun and pointed it at her brother. Both she and her brother pled with Branch to drop the gun. She then told police Branch stood there for 15 seconds with the gun pointed at her brother and then without warning shooting him, according to the police report.
According to Maheia’s sister’s account of the incident, she heard five to six gunshots. When the shooting stopped she observed Branch and his girlfriend running out of the front door and entering a black SUV.
Branch’s girlfriend was also interviewed by police. She told officers she and Maheia got into an argument that led to a fight after he and his sister told her to leave the home. She described to police that she heard two to three gunshots that ended up breaking up the fight, according to the report.
Video surveillance of the home showed that approximately 21 gunshots could be heard in rapid, continuous succession police stated in the report.
According to police, Branch was taken to the hospital and treated for multiple injuries, including a bite mark on his arm, chest and scratches. Branch’s girlfriend was also taken to the hospital and treated for a broken nose and eye bruising.
According to the police report, Branch faces an open murder charge following the incident.
