An 18-year-old man, Connor Rebelo, was found shot to death in a Las Vegas apartment complex parking lot. Police investigations revealed a chilling plot involving three individuals who allegedly lured Rebelo for sex with the intention of robbing him. The situation took a tragic turn when Rebelo was fatally shot in the head.
The incident occurred on July 19th shortly before 8:00 p.m. Upon responding to reports of gunshots, police discovered Rebelo unresponsive in the parking lot. He was pronounced dead at the scene, with a gunshot wound to the head determined as the cause of death.
A resident’s account provided crucial details about the events leading up to the shooting. The witness observed Rebelo walking with a woman when three men suddenly ambushed him, physically assaulting him and pistol-whipping him repeatedly. The woman accompanying Rebelo reportedly did nothing to intervene and fled as the situation escalated.
Following the shooting, the three men dispersed, with one of them joining the woman who had been with Rebelo. Based on suspect descriptions, detectives began surveillance of the apartment complex. They observed a group matching the suspects’ descriptions anxiously trying to hail a ride-share. Recognizing their opportunity, an undercover detective drove past the group, prompting them to enter a car trailing behind, believing it to be their ride. Police then apprehended the vehicle’s occupants, leading to the arrest of 22-year-old Nathan Nava, a relative, and 23-year-old Skyler Bailey.
Nava’s account alleged that he and Bailey, the mother of his child, were spending time with friends at the apartment complex when Rebelo arrived. According to Nava, two individuals at the apartment claimed Rebelo owed them money and intended to rob him. Nava denied any involvement in the plan but admitted to witnessing the assault on Rebelo. However, he maintained that he never saw a gun.
Bailey, on the other hand, claimed to have met Rebelo a month prior at a party. She corroborated Nava’s account of the assault but insisted she was merely accompanying Rebelo when the attack occurred.
Conversations with Rebelo’s mother and girlfriend unveiled a text message exchange where Rebelo informed them he was meeting a friend and would return shortly. This communication marked the last time they heard from him. Further investigation revealed that Rebelo had been in contact with a woman named “Emily” on Instagram, planning to meet up with her. Their initial attempts to meet on July 16th and 18th were canceled by “Emily,” citing unforeseen circumstances. They ultimately rescheduled for July 19th, the day of the murder.
Analysis of phone records uncovered a connection between Bailey and the “Emily” persona. It was discovered that “Emily” was actually 20-year-old Emily Rideout, Bailey’s sister. Text messages exchanged between the sisters indicated that Nava and Bailey were facing severe financial distress and had been evicted from their home with their children on July 2nd. Messages revealed their intent to target Rebelo, highlighting his habit of displaying wealth on social media.
Further investigation into Nava and Bailey’s text messages revealed a disturbing pattern of Nava’s involvement in past robberies. Messages also suggested they had been actively seeking to borrow a gun. On the day of the murder, Bailey texted Nava the address where Rebelo was later found dead.
Police suspect the involvement of an additional individual known as “spaz out” in their communications. While investigations are ongoing to confirm “spaz out’s” identity, they believe this individual played a role in conspiring to rob Rebelo.
It was revealed that Rebelo worked as an ATM technician, frequently posting photos on social media featuring large sums of money. Police believe these posts, consistent with Bailey’s description of Rebelo as “flashy,” contributed to him being targeted.
Nathan Nava, Skyler Bailey, and Emily Rideout were all arrested and charged with open murder, battery with intent to commit robbery, and conspiracy to commit robbery.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of online safety and the potential consequences of sharing personal information on social media.
