A man shot and killed five people and injured a teenager in a series of shootings on Monday night, June 24, before taking his ex-girlfriend hostage, according to police reports. The suspect, identified as Eric Adams, 47, carried out the attacks at two apartments within the Craig Ranch Villas complex in Las Vegas, Nevada shortly after 10 p.m.
The North Las Vegas Police Department confirmed that Adams had a history of domestic violence, including a protection order filed against him by his ex-girlfriend in March. This order was set to expire in July. Adams had completed a domestic violence counseling program earlier in June.
The incident began with a domestic-related argument between Adams and his ex-girlfriend at her ground-floor apartment. During the confrontation, Adams retrieved a firearm and shot two women inside the apartment: the ex-girlfriend’s 24-year-old daughter, Kayla Harris, and Harris’s 22-year-old friend, Jennette Faria-Webster. Both women were pronounced dead at the scene.
A neighbor, identified as 20-year-old Christopher Damian, heard the commotion and went downstairs to investigate. Adams shot Damian before proceeding upstairs to the neighbor’s apartment. There, he fatally shot Damian’s 59-year-old grandmother, Anna Damiana Munoz, and 40-year-old mother, Amy Damian. Adams also shot and critically injured Damian’s 13-year-old sister, who remained hospitalized as of Wednesday. Two other teenagers were in the upstairs apartment but were unharmed.
Adams then took his ex-girlfriend hostage and fled the scene. She managed to escape and approached a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officer during an unrelated traffic stop in the early hours of Tuesday, June 25.
North Las Vegas Police arrived at the scene to discover the victims in the upstairs apartment first. Shortly after, with information from the ex-girlfriend, they located the additional three victims in the ground-floor apartment.
The North Las Vegas Police Department revealed that Adams had threatened to kill a woman last year. Court records showed that he had a history of domestic violence convictions, including a case from earlier this year where he was ordered to attend classes, pay a fine, and complete community service. An order of protection had been filed against him in March by his ex-girlfriend. Adams had also been arrested in February for domestic battery by strangulation, though the case was later dismissed.
The police described Adams as armed and “extremely dangerous” on Tuesday morning, warning the public not to approach him if seen. Metro police received information that Adams was at a business on the 1500 block of Lake Mead Boulevard. When officers arrived, Adams jumped into the backyard of a residence on Dwayne Stedman Avenue near MLK Boulevard and Balzar Avenue.
Despite verbal commands from the officers to drop his weapon, Adams ignored them and took his own life.
The community is reeling from the violent spree. One neighbor described the horror of the incident, saying, “I heard the gunshots and the screams. It’s something I’ll never forget.”
The surviving victims and their families are receiving assistance from the North Las Vegas Police Department, victim advocates, and detectives to help them cope with the aftermath of the incident.
Munoz shared that his granddaughter Olivia may have suffered brain damage and is currently in a fight for her life. He revealed that Adams was a neighbor who frequently asked his ex-wife for rides to work. His daughter Amy, he said, had recently completed a respiratory therapist training program and was excited to start her career.
Salvador Munoz Jr., Sal Muñoz’s son, expressed the intense grief the family is experiencing. His mother, Damiana, had moved from New Mexico to assist Amy with her children. Inspired by her mother’s battle with COVID-19 in 2021, Amy pursued a career in respiratory therapy. Her son Christopher was studying at UNLV to become a physical therapist.
He also shared that Olivia remains in intensive care, heavily sedated following surgery. The family planned a candlelight vigil at the apartment complex to honor their loved ones.
A local resident, Dasia Cullins, expressed her shock and disbelief at the incident, stating, “You’re supposed to feel safe here, and you don’t feel safe anymore.”
The police are treating the shooting as an “isolated incident” and their investigation is ongoing. They have requested anyone with information about the incident to contact the North Las Vegas Police Department.
