Elko man arrested in Tuesday’s fatal shooting of man he knew

ELKO, Nev. (AP) — A 51-year-old Elko man has been arrested in the fatal shooting at his home this week of a man he reportedly knew.

Joshua Melton was being held in the Elko County Jail on Thursday without bail in the death of 37-year-old Edward Gilbreath.

Melton was arrested Wednesday on a charge of open murder, the Elko Daily Free Press reported.

He’s accused of shooting Gilbreath with a handgun during a dispute at Melton’s residence Tuesday morning on the southside of town. Gilbreath died at the scene from an apparent gunshot wound.

Elko police said in a statement that the two “knew each other and had worked together in the past.”

It’s not clear if Melton has a lawyer or will be appointed one. It also wasn’t clear whether he has a prior criminal record.

Gilbreath had been arrested at least four times on various charges since the beginning of the year, the newspaper reported. They include domestic battery, abuse of an old or vulnerable person, felony possession of a controlled substance, battery on a protected person and violating a domestic violence temporary protective order.