Security guard killed

      A security guard was shot to death in his car as he patrolled the parking lot of a southeast Las Vegas bank late Tuesday.
      It was the second slaying of a private security officer in less than a year.
      Tuesday night's killing took place almost a year to the day after guard Michael Morrow, 31, of Las Vegas was run over by a fleeing vehicle at an apartment complex, on Oct. 15, 1996.
     

A Las Vegas police employee takes a look at the body of a security guard who was shot to death in his car at Las Vegas Business Bank on South Maryland Parkway Tuesday evening. Photo by Mike Salsbury.

Sgt. Bill Keeton said police were called to Las Vegas Business Bank, 3885 S. Maryland Parkway near Flamingo Road, about 8 p.m. Police found the Borg-Warner security guard, about 40 years old, slumped over in the driver's seat of his vehicle. The car was parked at the rear of the bank, and the driver's side door was open.
      "He was able to put out a call for help himself, and he made a transmission (over his radio) asking for Las Vegas police," Keeton said. "I'm not sure what the exact words were."
      Keeton said the victim, whose name was not released pending notification of next of kin, was not able to tell officers who attacked him or give any possible suspect descriptions.
      "I've received information that the (Borg-Warner security) account to watch this place just started today," Keeton said.
      There were no eyewitnesses, and as of late Tuesday, police were not able to obtain any suspect descriptions. A motive was also unknown.
      It appeared the victim was not armed. No firearm was recovered at the scene, police said.
      Keeton said it appeared the killer fired several shots. There was at least one bullet hole in the side of the vehicle. It was not clear how many times the victim was hit.
      A Borg-Warner supervisor who was on the scene declined comment.
      Las Vegan Mary Howell was walking out of HomePlace, 3890 S. Maryland Parkway, when she heard at least two shots ring out.
      "We heard the shots, and it was real loud," Howell said. "As soon as I heard it, I said, 'Someone's been shot.' I used to live in the hood so I recognized the sound immediately. It was really loud, a heckuva gun. It sounded like a 9 (mm)."
      When Morrow was killed last year, several security personnel and business owners in the Las Vegas Valley said public discussions were needed on exactly what role security guards should play in preventing or deterring crime.
      Questions posed included whether security guards should be armed and what role they should have with law enforcement officers.
      Morrow, a security guard at Sun Harbor Budget Suites, 4625 E. Boulder Highway, and an employee of Bigelow Properties, was attempting to detain the driver of a van he saw speeding through the parking lot on two separate occasions. He stopped the van and started arguing with the driver.
      Morrow was pulled underneath the vehicle as the driver fled. He died at University Medical Center hours after the incident.
      Police charged Patrick Juarez III, 24, of Las Vegas with murder. Juarez's case is pending.