Shooting kills mother, injures daughter

A woman was killed and a young girl was critically injured in an early morning shooting Saturday near Lake Mead and Nellis boulevards, Las Vegas police said.

No names were released by authorities, though police said the victims were a mother and daughter.

Police said they were called to an apartment in the 5600 block of Meikle Lane at 3:53 a.m. in response to a shooting and found a woman dead from a gunshot wound to the head.

The girl, who was shot in the stomach, was taken to the University Medical Center in very critical condition and underwent surgery.

Her condition was not released Saturday afternoon.

Homicide Lt. Lew Roberts said investigators have not established a motive for the shooting, though it could be drug-related.

Police said they determined that three people knocked on the apartment door and when it was opened, a black man described as having a medium build and wearing dark clothing started firing a handgun.

At least one of the men left in a dark-colored vehicle, police said.

George Luke, a neighbor, said he was sleeping on a couch in his family room by the front door when he was awakened by two gunshots.

Luke, who had to be at work later that morning, said he couldn't go back to bed after the shooting.

"It frightened me a little bit," he said.

Luke said he didn't know the woman who was shot.

But he said he thinks the woman, who appeared to be in her 20s, lived with her boyfriend and three children.

Anyone with information pertaining to this shooting is urged to call the Las Vegas police Homicide Section at 828-3521 or Crime Stoppers at 385-5555.

Contact reporter Antonio Planas at aplanas@review journal.com or 702-383-4638.