Issac Manriquez entered the plea during a brief court appearance before a Clark County judge. A grand jury indicted him earlier this month on a charge of felony murder in the death of Carth Jacobs, with the allegation that the killing was carried out to promote, further or assist a criminal gang. He also faces battery charges stemming from the wounding of two other people, identified in court records as Angel Morales and J.S.

Manriquez is being held without bail at the Clark County Detention Center. His next court date is a status hearing scheduled for Nov. 18 at 8:30 a.m.

According to an arrest report, the violence unfolded on the night of Oct. 2 after two groups crossed paths and began exchanging challenges that escalated into a physical fight. Investigators say Manriquez was identified through surveillance footage, nine shell casings recovered at the scene, and a wallet left behind that contained a card bearing his name.

The shooting cast a pall over First Friday, a long-running monthly festival that draws artists, vendors and crowds to the Arts District. Organizers have kept the event paused since the killing, and local artists have responded by staging independent art crawls to keep the community's creative economy alive while the official gathering remains on hold.

The case also highlights the toll of gun violence involving young people in the Las Vegas Valley, where a 17-year-old now stands accused of killing a 15-year-old in a public space meant for families and art lovers. Community members have called for both accountability and a deeper look at what draws teenagers into gang-affiliated conflicts.

Manriquez's plea means the case is headed toward trial unless a resolution is reached. Prosecutors have not indicated whether they will seek to have him tried as an adult, and his defense attorney could not be immediately reached for comment. Under Nevada law, juveniles charged with certain violent felonies can face adult prosecution depending on the severity of the allegations and prior record.

The Clark County District Attorney's office declined to comment beyond the court filings. A spokesperson for First Friday organizers did not respond to a request for comment on the status of the festival.

For now, the legal process will continue through the fall, with the Nov. 18 hearing expected to address scheduling and pretrial matters. The family of Carth Jacobs has not spoken publicly since the indictment, but a memorial of flowers and candles has appeared near the site of the shooting in the weeks since.