LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — The widow of a City of Las Vegas employee shot and killed on the job announced Thursday she is preparing a federal civil rights lawsuit against the city, calling his death “completely preventable.”
Monica McLean, joined by her attorneys Ophelia Markarian and Corinne Murphy, spoke publicly at a press conference detailing the June 12, 2026, murder of her husband, Joey McLean.
According to his legal team, Joey McLean, a city worker and vocal advocate for workplace safety, had spent months filing formal complaints, sending emails, and requesting transfers away from the co-worker who eventually killed him.
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“Joey did everything that a responsible, reasonable employee was supposed to do,” attorney Corinne Murphy said. “The result was that all of his complaints, including him explicitly saying, ‘I fear for my life,’ were ignored.”
Attorneys pointed to internal city emails showing what they described as a “dismissive attitude” from supervisors regarding Joey McLean’s safety concerns. In one exchange, managers allegedly questioned what constituted an emergency and noted that transferring him would require moving others.
“If you say, ‘I feel physically in danger from this person,’ that is an emergency,” Murphy said.
Monica McLean described her husband as a deeply faithful Catholic, a loving father, and her best friend.
“I just want other people to not go through the things that Joey had to go through,” Monica McLean said. “Things that are just and right need to be handled justly and rightly.”
The legal team has submitted a notice of tort claim to the City of Las Vegas and plans to file a formal civil rights lawsuit under Section 1983 once Joey McLean’s estate is legally established, a process expected to take 60 to 90 days. The lawsuit will seek policy changes and answers as to why safety protocols were not followed.
In response to previous inquiries, Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley stated that the city followed established union rules regarding employee transfers and is currently reviewing its workplace safety procedures.
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