Nicholas Davi: Vegas pastor's children recorded his murder by neighbor who was threatening them for days

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA: The widow of a Nevada pastor is suing her former neighbor for allegedly shooting her husband in December of last year in front of her and their small children, one of whom captured the horrific event on camera.

Sarah Davi filed the lawsuit, claiming that 36-year-old Joe Junio caused the untimely death of her husband, 46-year-old Nicholas Davi, a pastor at Las Vegas' Grace Point Church.

Charges against Joe Junio

Following the tragic event, Junio was taken into custody and charged with one count each of open murder and attempted murder with a deadly weapon, two counts of child abuse with a deadly weapon, and discharging a firearm in a place where a person might be in danger, according to court documents.

According to records, she was still being held at the Clark County Detention Center as of Tuesday, with a $300,000 bond.

The fact that Sarah Davi was also seriously hurt in the shooting is the reason for the attempted murder charge.

Although it was unknown who owned the gun at the time the lawsuit was filed, the owner of the one Junio used in the fatal shooting is also named in the lawsuit, Law&Crime reported.

There is "reason to believe Joe (Junio) was not the lawful owner of the firearm that had been used," according to the lawsuit.

A copy of the filed complaint states that Nicholas Davi's multiple complaints against Junio to the homeowners association were the reason for the deadly confrontation between the neighbors.

The homeowners association "provided information" to Junio regarding complaints filed by Nicholas Davi, and the association "should have known that (Junio) would likely perform violent actions against deceased and Plaintiff as a result of on-going association disputes," according to the lawsuit, even though Junio is not a named defendant in the action.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal was able to obtain a police report that contained further information regarding the circumstances surrounding the turbulent neighborly relationship.

Joe Junio accused of multiple infractions involving dogs and chickens

According to the report, Junio was accused by Nicholas and Sarah Davi of multiple infractions involving dogs and chickens, which they had previously formalized in complaints, Law&Crime stated.

But the couple claimed that Junio had been "engaging in escalating threatening behavior" toward their family shortly before the fatal shooting.

Junio, for instance, is said to have "ran her finger across her throat in a cutting motion and told them they were next" after they saw her hurling rocks into their yard.

They also allegedly said that Junio threw dog poop into their yard and once succeeded in flooding their house. According to reports, the family became so afraid of Junio that they called the police twice on him before moving to a new place.

On the day of the shooting, the family had returned home and was getting ready to head out for the evening when Junio pulled her car into her driveway, which was right next to theirs.

She got into a verbal fight with Nicholas Davi, who asked her, "What's your problem with us?" as to why she wouldn't just leave the family alone.

Junio then "suddenly opened the door of her vehicle and approached Nicholas (Davi)" and started shooting, according to the complaint. According to reports, she shot the pastor and then his wife.

The 12- and 15-year-old children of the couple captured the event on camera. After that, Junio allegedly fled and was apprehended.

In addition to the $15,000 minimum required for state civil lawsuits, Sarah Davi is requesting punitive damages, general damages, and damages for "grief, sorrow, loss of probable support, companionship, society, comfort, consortium, and damages for pain, suffering or disfigurement."

On March 4, she is expected back in court for her preliminary hearing in the murder case.