Two People Arrested For Murder And Kidnapping In Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS, NV - Two people have been arrested in connection with a Wednesday morning murder-kidnapping incident in Las Vegas, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police announced. Metro announced that 27-year old Joseph Fernandez and 26-year old Jessica Tolentino-Arciga are facing charges for the crime.

Metro responded to the call at 3:49 a.m. on Feb. 7. In a Metro release, police allege that Fernandez drove to the home of a woman, who has been reported to be an ex-love interest, and shot a man inside the home before kidnapping the woman. The man was pronounced dead after being transported to University Medical Center. Police say that Fernandez then took the woman to an apartment complex of the 5100 block of Torrey Pines Dr.

At the apartment complex, police say Tolentino-Arciga assisted in holding the woman captive. Tolentino-Arciga checked the area to see if police were around and the victim was able to escape and call 911 inside a store near Tropicana Ave. and Jones Blvd.

At 4:27 a.m., police located a gray BMW driving recklessly near Jones Blvd. and Russell Rd. that matched the description of the suspect's vehicle. A police chase ensued northbound on Interstate 15 before police were able to stop Fernandez using the Precision Intervention Technique (PIT).

PIT is a technique used by law enforcement in which a car pursuing another vehicle aligns its front wheels with the rear wheels of the vehicle it is pursuing. The pursuing vehicle then steers into the target vehicle, causing the target to spin out of control.

After successfully utilizing the technique, police took Fernandez into custody. Tolentino-Argica was arrested at the apartment complex on Torrey Pines Dr. Both suspects are currently being held in Clark County Detention Center

Fernandez is being charged with open murder, burglary with a weapon, first-degree kidnapping, first-degree conspiracy to commit kidnapping, conspiracy to commit murder, home invasion with a deadly weapon, burglary while in possession of a gun, driver disobeying a peace officer and endangering other people, and battery with a deadly weapon.

Tolentino-Argica is being charged with first-degree kidnapping, first-degree conspiracy to commit kidnapping, and first-degree conspiracy to commit murder.

Both will appear in court on Feb. 22. Anyone with additional information about this crime is encouraged to call LVMPD at 702-828-3521 or 702-385-5555.