LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — A Clark County grand jury has formally indicted a City of Las Vegas employee accused of killing a co-worker two weeks ago.
Brysen Kim faces murder and burglary charges in the death of Joey McLean, his co-worker in the city’s maintenance department. The burglary charge alleges Kim entered a city building with a gun intending to commit battery. Police said Kim and McLean had been involved in a months-long dispute.
HR complaints and disciplinary history
FOX5 filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the city seeking, “All emails, documents, or internal records mentioning HR complaints, requests for department transfer, or interpersonal conflict regarding or made by Brysen Kim or Joey McLean.”
Friday, the city released an initial assessment of the events leading up to the June 12 shooting.
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The city’s timeline begins Feb. 12, when McLean submitted a transfer request without explanation. That request was later denied. Five days later, Kim filed a formal HR complaint against McLean, prompting an HR investigation. Kim’s concerns included possible sabotage of a vehicle tailgate, harassment and inappropriate text messaging.
McLean was placed on administrative leave with pay for more than two weeks before a disciplinary hearing he declined to attend, responding in writing instead. HR substantiated McLean’s “unprofessional conduct, inappropriate text communication, and verbal confrontation in the workplace.”
McLean was allowed to return to work March 20 and subsequently filed multiple HR complaints of his own. McLean and Kim then worked the same shift 27 times but were assigned to separate tasks. After a formal reprimand, McLean took personal leave for most of May.
Events before the shooting
Days before the shooting, Kim communicated with the deputy city manager that the acting public works director was seeking to discuss his concerns about McLean.
On June 12 — the day of McLean’s death — McLean was to be notified of a disciplinary hearing scheduled three days later that could have resulted in further disciplinary action, up to and including termination.
At some point before his death, McLean made allegations that Kim had a gun on city property. According to the city, Kim left a gun he owned in a bathroom in 2025.
Mayor responds to questions about management inaction
Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley was asked whether she would launch an investigation into claims that management inaction may have contributed to the shooting.
“Right now, I don’t have an answer for you, but yes, of course we’re looking into something like this,” Berkley said. “It is not normal. It doesn’t happen. Certainly doesn’t happen here in the city of Las Vegas. And so we will ultimately find out what exactly transpired, report it to the public.”
Berkley said she did not personally know of the tension between the two employees before the shooting but said she would be asking management who did.
“I have a meeting with my city manager every Tuesday afternoon. He is taking this very, very seriously, as is his deputy manager, Rosa,” Berkley said. “And so they are doing everything they can on behalf of the city to cooperate with Metro… And if there’s changes we need to implement, obviously we will.”
When asked about employees bringing guns to work, Berkley said employees with concealed carry permits are allowed to carry per state law.
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