Local News

Actions

Suspect arrested for murder of man on Dec. 2

Posted at 6:56 PM, Dec 04, 2015
and last updated 2015-12-04 21:56:44-05
A man has been arrested in connection to the murder on Dec. 2 at an apartment in the 800 block of King Richard Avenue, near Russell Road.
 
During the investigation, police learned there was an argument between the victim, 39-year-old David Cameron Batts, and the suspect, 33-year-old Melvin Allen, shortly before the shooting.
 
On Dec. 3, Allen was taken into custody and booked into the Clark County Detention Center. He is facing one charge of open murder.
 
An arrest report released for the arrest of Melvin Allen is shedding more light on the relationship between the two men. 
 
Melvin Allen and the victim apparently attended the same mosque. Allen would reportedly visit the victim's home every Friday after worship. The victim's son told police that he became very familiar with Allen and the sound of his voice.
 
On the night of the shooting, the victim's son called police and reported that his father had been shot. The son told police that just before the shots were fired, he heard the suspect say "Where the shit at, ni***r?" The on then heard his father say that he was a Muslim and not afraid to die. The victim then reportedly said "There is no greater God but Allah" in Arabic. After that, the victim's son said that he heard 2 or 3 shots.
 
The son also told police that he sound another person who was shorter than Allen. In addition, he told police that he had seen Allen with a gun on a prior occasion and that he had overheard his dad talking earlier in the week about Allen possibly shooting him because of a "beef" between the two men.
 
After Allen's arrest, he agreed to give police a statement.
 
He told police that he owed Batts money and he was being pressured to repay the victim. He told that he only learned of the shooting when he went to the mosque the day after. He says he gave his gun to someone there. He was arrested as he was leaving the mosque.
 
Allen insisted that he never fired the gun and had not visited Batt's residence in 3 weeks. However, the victim's son picked him out of a lineup. 
 
Action News spoke to the victim's son on Thursday night.
 
 
Police are still looking for a person of interest. That person is described as a six-foot tall black male with a heavy build. He was last seen wearing dark clothing.
 
Anyone with information should call Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555.