LAS VEGAS, Nev. — A tragic shooting in the southwest Las Vegas Valley has left a young woman and a toddler dead, sending shockwaves through the community. The heartbreaking violence unfolded on March 2, 2026, in what authorities believe may have begun as an attempted vehicle theft.
According to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, officers were conducting a traffic stop near Starr Avenue and Dean Martin Drive when they heard multiple gunshots ring out. Officers immediately followed the sound into a nearby residential neighborhood on the 1100 block of Victoria Medici Street. There, they discovered a vehicle riddled with bullet holes parked along the roadway.
When officers approached the car, they found a woman and a toddler inside suffering from gunshot wounds. Police rendered emergency aid until medical personnel arrived. Both victims were transported to University Medical Center, where they were later pronounced dead. The woman was identified as Danaijha Robinson, described by family members as being in her 20s.
Investigators said Robinson had been watching a friend’s toddler at the time of the shooting. A fundraiser created by her family described the devastating moment as one that “should have been ordinary and safe” before their lives were changed forever. Authorities believe the shooting occurred while Robinson and the child were sitting inside the parked vehicle. According to reporting by 8 News Now, citing sources familiar with the investigation, the suspect allegedly attempted to steal the vehicle before opening fire.
The toddler’s identity and exact age have not yet been publicly released. Police initially indicated the child might have been related to Robinson but later clarified she was not the child’s mother. The senseless loss of both victims has left loved ones grieving and demanding justice.
Authorities say the suspect fled the Las Vegas area after the shooting and allegedly stole another vehicle in Phoenix, Arizona. The suspect was later arrested Tuesday night by the Utah Highway Patrol. Officials have not yet publicly confirmed the suspect’s identity. The investigation remains ongoing, and police urge anyone with information to contact the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Homicide Section or Crime Stoppers.
