PISS-POOR SHOT ... HE ONLY AIMED FOR HIS LEG

Las Vegas murder suspect on bail cuts off GPS bracelet, leads Texas deputies on chase 

 

by David Charns 

 

KLAS

Dec 19, 2025

 

 

 

LAS VEGAS — A murder suspect released on bail allegedly cut off his GPS bracelet, escaped, and then led deputies in Texas on a high-speed chase, the 8 News Now Investigators have learned.

Las Vegas Metro police arrested Maliek Hunter, now 23, on Jan. 3, 2023, for the December 2022 murder of Shalom Amar, 59. At the time of Hunter’s arrest, detectives said Amar had spoken with a person on Facebook about buying a used car. Police later located him deceased near the intersection of Warm Springs and Bermuda roads in the south Las Vegas valley.

Hunter initially denied any involvement in the murder, but later admitted to attempting to rob the victim with a friend, police said.

In the aftermath of Hunter’s arrest, former Las Vegas Justice Court Judge Joseph Sciscento set bail at $350,000. Sciscento ordered Hunter to wear a GPS bracelet should he post bail. In March 2024, Hunter posted bond and was released with two monitors — the bracelet from court and one from his bail bondsman, Clark County Deputy District Attorney Elizabeth Mercer indicated Friday.

In January, a Las Vegas Metro police forensic scientist determined a bullet recovered from Shalom’s head was fired from a gun, which prosecutors suspect belonged to Hunter. Police located the gun in Hunter’s girlfriend’s car, Mercer said.

In October, after several delays heading toward trial, Clark County District Court Judge Carli Kierny heard arguments from Mercer about remanding Hunter into custody without bail.

“I haven’t been in trouble in two years,” Hunter told Kierny during the hearing, according to court transcripts. “I know they think the evidence is great. I’ve been very respectful with everyone.”

“Sir, you’ve lied repeatedly to this court, and I don’t want to go down this road. I’ve thought about this decision,” Kierny warned Hunter before she revoked his bail and ordered him to surrender by the afternoon of Nov 7, giving him two weeks to have a dental procedure after his attorney requested it.

On Nov. 7, Hunter failed to surrender, and Kierny issued a warrant for his arrest.

That day, the unit administering the Clark County Detention Center’s house arrest program found Hunter’s bracelets on the 215 Beltway in Henderson, Mercer said.

 

Oldham County deputies chased Hunter on his motorcycle until he ran out of gas.

 

On Nov. 11, deputies in Oldham County, Texas, engaged in a high-speed chase with Hunter on a motorcycle on Interstate 40, documents said. Hunter led deputies on the chase near the New Mexico border and into Texas at speeds reaching approximately 130 mph, prosecutors allege.

“Ultimately, he did stop,” Mercer said. “In a statement from one of the officers who transported him from Texas to Las Vegas after extradition, he advised them that he stopped because he ran out of gas.”

Hunter then allegedly lied to the deputy, giving him a false name and saying he lived in Illinois, documents said. Following a fingerprinting at the jail, deputies matched Hunter to the active warrant in Las Vegas.

Hunter returned to Las Vegas on Nov. 24, records said.

On Thursday, a Clark County grand jury indicted him for his alleged actions connected to his escape, Mercer announced Friday. Two others, including Hunter’s girlfriend, also face charges. Prosecutors obtained video evidence that shows the girlfriend purchasing items to cut off the bracelets, Mercer said.

Hunter’s trial was scheduled to begin on Jan. 5.

According to documents 8 News Now obtained after Hunter’s arrest, Hunter initially denied any involvement in the murder but later admitted to attempting to rob the victim with a friend.

“I initiated the robbery,” police said Hunter told them. “I shot first. I was trying to shoot him in the leg to wound him to give us the money.”