A Las Vegas city employee who repeatedly raised safety concerns about a coworker was fatally shot at work months later, according to newly released internal records.

Joey McLean was killed on June 12, 2026, when coworker Brysen Kim allegedly shot him in the head at a city of Las Vegas maintenance yard. Kim has been charged with murder and has pleaded not guilty. A trial is scheduled for February.

Records obtained through a public records request show McLean had documented serious fears about Kim for months. In one HR complaint, McLean wrote that he was “being actively stalked by Brysen Kim outside of work hours” and cited Kim’s “delusions, steroid use, access to a firearm, and stated gang affiliation.” He concluded: “I am afraid for my life.”

McLean had previously considered Kim a friend but later requested a transfer, telling the city the situation was “urgent.” He was placed on paid leave at one point and his work badge was deactivated. After returning, the two men continued to work at the same sites on multiple occasions, though they were assigned separate tasks. Managers reportedly discussed the transfer request and whether both employees simply needed to learn to work together.

Kim had also filed complaints against McLean, including one involving a dump truck incident and another about a phrase written on a work truck that Kim interpreted as mocking.

The case has raised questions about how the city handled the escalating workplace conflict. More than 1,500 pages of internal emails and documents related to the HR complaints and transfer requests were released.

Kim remains in custody facing the murder charge. The investigation into the workplace shooting continues.

Sources

• Fox 5 Vegas