Land Rover Las Vegas boosts reward for killer of bighorn ewe

Land Rover Las Vegas is contributing to the reward money for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who killed a desert bighorn sheep near Henderson in June.

The illegal shooting also resulted in the eventual death of the sheep's nursing lamb, which was found near the sheep in the McCullough mountain range above the Anthem neighborhood.

The lamb's death about one week later means the animal, unable to nurse, essentially starved to death.

It is a felony to kill a big game animal without a permit. The penalty carries a $5,000 fine and one to four years in prison, according to Edwin Lyngar, public information officer for the Nevada Department of Wildlife.

"It's a serious crime," Lyngar said, describing the incident as a senseless shooting and a particularly egregious one due to the circumstances.

Hunting season for male bighorn sheep in Southern Nevada is confined to a two-month window in the fall .

Lyngar's office has received several phone calls about the killing, but no solid leads .

Cases like this, Lyngar said, are typically difficult to solve because of the remoteness of the crime scene and dearth of witnesses.

The donation from Land Rover Las Vegas increases the total reward money to $10,000.

"We hope the additional reward money will lead to someone coming forward with more information that helps prosecute the person responsible," said Ray DiNardi, Land Rover Las Vegas general manager.

Anyone with information can call Operation Game Thief at 800-992-3030. Calls will remain anonymous.