Victim called innocent bystander in shooting that killed two, wounded one

Paul Rodelo was a gregarious man who liked to wear a cowboy hat and boots when he listened to traditional Mexican music, his family remembered Wednesday.

"He was the first one to get up and dance," said Ricardo Romero, Rodelo's brother.

Rodelo, 22, also was an affectionate son who was always willing to help, said his mother, Teresa Noriega.

"He was always hugging and kissing me," she said tearfully in Spanish. "He'd always tell me, 'Mom, let me cook. I'll take care of it. Go out with your friends.' "

Rodelo died Tuesday night at University Medical Center, the second fatality resulting from a Monday shooting on a residential street near Decatur Boulevard and Sahara Avenue.

Las Vegas police said 20-year-old Carlos Benitez died Monday from multiple gunshot wounds. He was found inside his blue Ford F-150 pickup on the 5000 block of Edna Avenue.

A third shooting victim, Cesar Sosa, 20, was listed in fair condition Wednesday at UMC.

Las Vegas police on Tuesday arrested 19-year-old Jose Granados and charged him with one count of murder with a deadly weapon and two counts of attempted murder.

Granados' uncle, Ricardo Granados-Corea, 30, was listed as a "person of interest" by police.

He was last seen in a white Honda Ridgeline truck with tinted windows. The vehicle had a California license plate, 7W13664.

According to a police report released Wednesday, one witness saw Jose Granados standing in an Edna Avenue driveway holding a rifle shortly before the shooting.

Another witness told police a second man also was in the driveway with a gun.

Police recovered multiple 7.62 rifle cartridge casings along with multiple .40-caliber casings outside the Ford pickup, which was riddled with bullet holes.

Homicide Sgt. Rocky Alby wouldn't comment Wednesday on whether Granados would face an additional murder charge because of Rodelo's death.

Police said one of the three shooting victims was involved in a dispute with a resident on Edna, but they did not name Granados.

Family members said Wednesday that Rodelo was an innocent bystander. Rodelo's sister, Cindy Noriega, 18, said her late brother had known Benitez and Sosa for less than two weeks.

Noriega said the three men were at her parents' home before the shooting. They left to get beer at a convenience store on Edna and Decatur.

Noriega said her family has lived at the home, which is less than a half-mile from where the shooting took place, for eight years. They didn't know Granados or have problems with anyone else in the neighborhood.

"The last thing he said to me was, 'I love you,' " Cindy Noriega said. "They went out for beer and never came back."

According to the report, a person inside the home on Edna where shots were fired told police they had seen the blue Ford earlier and that the occupants of the truck were "causing trouble."

That witness also told police Granados-Corea had gone to the store and was followed home by the blue pickup.

Before Granados was arrested, he denied involvement in the shooting, the report said.

Sarah Hernandez, Rodelo's cousin by marriage, said Rodelo and the two other men in the F-150 didn't have any weapons on them when they were found by police.

The police report made no mention of the shooting victims being armed.

Hernandez said she hopes Granados-Corea is caught by police soon because he is a dangerous man.

"Paul was brain dead," she said. "He was shot in his eye, his throat and the back of his head."

Rodelo's family said he had married his high school sweetheart in December after dating her for seven years.

Rodelo attended Clark High School but never graduated. His family said he recently earned his high school equivalency.

Rodelo's mother said her son aspired to be a police officer.

She visited the place where her son died Wednesday night and collapsed in grief after pouring holy water on the ground near a blood spatter.

Ana Rodelo, now a widow at 22, planned to stay at UMC until midnight Wednesday, when her husband's body was scheduled to be released to the Clark County coroner's office, family members said.

Family members also said Rodelo's memorial service is scheduled for noon to 8 p.m. Aug. 22 at Bunkers Mortuary at 925 Las Vegas Blvd. N.

Police are still searching for Granados-Corea, who was described as 5 feet 9 inches tall and about 185 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information concerning his whereabouts or the shooting is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 385-5555 or the Homicide Section at 828-3521.

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