Armed man shot, killed by police was called by wife during fight outside Walmart, report says

LAS VEGAS (FOX5/Gray News) — Three people have been arrested in connection with a fight outside a Las Vegas Walmart that led to a deadly police shooting Tuesday.

Officers with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department responded to reports of a fight involving multiple people outside a Walmart around 6 a.m.

According to an arrest report, the fight began when a man identified as Kwame Swain and his girlfriend were arguing in front of the store.

Two women, identified as Raqiya Smith and Amena Blue, walked past the couple, but Swain began exchanging words with them, the report notes. The women approached Swain and began fighting with him, exchanging punches.

According to the report, Blue picked up a “softball-sized” rock and threw it at Swain, hitting him. Smith also stepped away from the fight to call her husband, identified as Travis Ward, to come to Walmart.

Walmart security broke up the fight at one point, separating the two groups, but Blue allegedly picked up additional rocks and followed Swain into the store.

Police said security stopped her and forced her to drop the rocks.

When Ward arrived, Smith pointed out Swain, and Ward approached him, shooting him in the stomach. According to the report, he tried to fire again, but the gun malfunctioned.

As Ward attempted to exit the store, an LVMPD officer identified as Officer Cristobal Magana shot him multiple times and handcuffed him after he fell to the ground. Police say he was given medical treatment at the scene, but died from his injuries.

Smith and Blue were arrested Wednesday, according to jail records, and are both facing charges of battery with a deadly weapon, disregard for the safety of persons or property, and conspiracy to commit battery.

Swain was arrested in absentia while he was taken to the hospital, according to the report, and is facing three misdemeanor counts of domestic battery and one felony charge of attempted coercion.

Smith and Blue made their initial appearance in front of a Las Vegas Justice Court judge Thursday morning. Their attorneys both maintained that neither woman started the fight, while prosecutors claimed the opposite.

The judge ruled that Smith would be held without bail, and Blue would be held on $25,000 bail with mid-level electronic monitoring and was ordered to stay away from the Walmart.