In a case that has shocked the community, Jerel and Bryanna Reyes, parents of a 12-year-old boy accused of fatally shooting his older brother, appeared in court on Tuesday, nearly a year after their arrest on child abuse charges. The tragic incident, which took place on January 25, 2024, has left the Reyes family reeling and the community in mourning.
The couple, Jerel Reyes, 52, and Bryanna Reyes, 51, were arrested by Henderson police on February 7, 2024, after officers found 15 unsecured guns throughout their home—many of which were within easy reach of the children. Some of the weapons were also loaded. The Clark County Prosecutor’s Office has since filed child abuse charges, claiming the negligence of leaving firearms accessible led directly to the tragedy.
On the day of the incident, Henderson police responded to the Reyes’ residence on Capital Gains Drive near Wigwam Parkway, where they discovered the body of the couple’s 14-year-old son, Aizeya Reyes, who had been fatally shot in the chest. The younger brother, a 12-year-old, admitted to shooting his sibling during an argument over a phone. He claimed he didn’t know the gun was loaded, according to the arrest report.
During Tuesday’s preliminary hearing, the Reyes waived their right to a formal hearing and opted to proceed directly to Clark County District Court. Their defense attorney, W. Michael Horvath, declined to comment to the media following the hearing, stating that negotiations were ongoing.
Both parents remain out of custody, each facing two counts of child abuse and neglect. The heartbreaking outcome has left their family shattered, and the community questioning the ease of access to firearms in households with children. The Clark County Coroner’s Office has confirmed the cause of death as a gunshot wound to the chest/abdomen.
Jerel Reyes, who moved to Las Vegas from Hawaii due to the high cost of living, claimed he purchased the firearms for protection and had provided gun safety training to his family. However, it appears those safety measures were tragically insufficient to prevent this devastating event.
The Reyes family is now set to appear in Clark County District Court again on January 28.
