A Las Vegas municipal employee told the city’s human resources department he feared for his safety months before a coworker allegedly shot and killed him, newly released court and city records indicate.
Brysen Kim has entered a not guilty plea to a murder charge in the death of Joey McLean, who Las Vegas Metropolitan Police said was shot in the head near 7th Street and Stewart Avenue shortly after 6 a.m. on June 12.
Following the shooting, Kim allegedly contacted police to report the killing himself, KSNV reported. Investigators later found evidence pointing to a simmering dispute between Kim and McLean that dated back to February 12, 2026.
More than 1,500 pages of city documents were released after a Freedom of Information Act request sought emails, HR complaints, transfer requests and other internal records connected to the two employees, according to FOX5.
Those records suggest Kim and McLean had once been friends. But by February, McLean was pressing the city for an urgent transfer to a different work location.
“If I could put this off until next shift bid I would, unfortunately this is urgent. I need the city to be flexible and help,” McLean wrote in one request obtained by the outlet. The message did not identify Kim by name.
The city opened an HR inquiry soon after the complaints emerged. Internal emails show supervisors trying to piece together the rapidly worsening conflict, while Kim also submitted complaints about McLean.
In several written complaints, Kim alleged repeated run-ins with McLean and described the workplace atmosphere as “very uncomfortable and toxic.”
Joey McLean, he was fatally shot at work on June 12
Brysen Kim, he pleaded not guilty to a murder charge in the June 12 killing of Joey McLean
McLean raised fears for his safety with HR months before his coworker allegedly killed him in a hail of gunfire
Kim accused McLean of repeated harassment, pointing to incidents involving a dump truck tailgate and verbal clashes, leading to McLean being placed on paid administrative leave as the investigation continued.
The records show city management later concluded it had ‘no objection’ to McLean returning to work and recommended issuing him a written reprimand, with no further explanation as to why city managers allowed McLean to return to work alongside Kim.
The city’s timeline shows the two men continued working side by side, sharing 22 shifts across March, April, and May before the fatal shooting.
While acknowledging the troubled history between the two men, prosecutors argued in court that it did not warrant the deadly attack.
‘This is about a six-month, ongoing argument between Brysen Kim and Joey McLean. There were HR complaints going both ways,’ prosecutors said according to KTNV.
The prosecution contended that the evidence does not back Kim’s claim that he was defending himself.
Following McLean’s death, his family and friends launched a GoFundMe to support them in the wake of the tragedy.
‘On the morning of June 12, 2026, Joey McLean tragically lost his life in a violent incident while at his place of employment with the City of Las Vegas,’ the GoFundMe read.
Following McLean’s death, his family and friends launched a GoFundMe to support them in the wake of the tragedy
McLean was shot in the head just after 6am near 7th Street and Stewart Avenue
‘Joey was a devoted husband, loving stepfather, and hardworking man who cared deeply for his family.’
McLean had just married his wife a little over two months ago, becoming a stepfather to three children.
‘Family meant everything to Joey, and he worked tirelessly to provide love, support, and stability for those he cared about,’ the fundraiser added.
Daily Mail reached out to the City and Kim’s attorney for comment.
