LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – Novice or expert, it didn’t matter, Desai Abrams encouraged all to carve up the Lee Canyon slopes, and now the benefactors of his praise are remembering his legacy.
On April 9, police responded to a call of a shooting in the 3200 block of North Las Vegas Boulevard. Officers found Desai Abrams, 36, shot and killed in a car in an apartment complex parking lot. A witness told police Abrams was not the intended target.
“I couldn’t honestly believe it,” Yovani Barrera, a friend of Abrams, said.
Barrera, who owns a group of sneaker and apparel shops called Take it Back, said he could remember the first time he met Abrams nearly five years ago.
“He came into my store with, like, inauthentic pair of sneakers,” he said. “And instead of being like mad or like angry that someone got over on him, he was just eager to learn. Wanted to learn more.”
Abrams learned a lot over the years, developing his own following in the sneaker community and finding celebrity clientele, according to Barrera.
“I’ll just say he definitely stood out,” he said. “He was known in the city everyone like he was very genuine.”
It wasn’t just sneakers, but snowboarding as well where he earned the respect of others, according to Jan Solis.
“We snowboarded a lot this year,” Solis said. “It was probably like every week I was seeing him this season. Something that always stuck out to me was, is I always hear it in my voice, and he’s like, ‘You’re killing it, man, you’re killing it.’ That’s all he says every time he sees me.”
Solis said he watched as Abrams encouraged the others around Lee Canyon. Abram’s death even honored by the Lee Canyon online page.
“In loving memory of Desai Abrams — a cherished soul, respected friend, and an unforgettable part of our Lee Canyon family. Your presence on the mountain brought light, laughter, and strength to our community. You will be deeply missed, but your spirit will always ride with us.” -Lee Canyon LV, Instagram post
“Losing someone like him was huge to this community, even just like sneakers, snowboarding or skating,” Solis said. “And people look up to him.”
The alleged gunman, identified by police as Adrian Rhodes, 31, was held at the Clark County Detention Center without bail. His preliminary hearing was scheduled for May 14.
