Las Vegas woman was ‘innocent victim’ in fatal shooting
The woman killed in a drive-by shooting Friday night was unconditionally kind and friendly to everyone, so it wouldn’t be out of character for her to help two females who police said were seeking aid, her boyfriend said Saturday.
Cassandra Lee Cassidy, a 24-year-old Las Vegan, was an “innocent bystander,” Metro said in a prepared statement.
She had just arrived to her shift at a house owned by Solutions Recovery Inc., a drug and alcohol recovery center with multiple houses around the valley, shortly after 10 pm., said Adam Loghides, her 26-year-old boyfriend.
Cassidy parked at the house, in the 1300 block of Westwind Road, near West Charleston Boulevard and Lindell Road, and encountered two “fearful” females who were asking for help, police said.
They told police later they were afraid of males in a car down the street, Metro Lt. Jeff Goodwin said Saturday.
The two-door white car occupied by multiple people approached Cassidy’s car while she was talking to the pair and at least one person in the car fired multiple rounds, fatally injuring Cassidy, police said. Then the car sped off.
The pair who had asked Cassidy to use her phone were not injured, Goodwin said. They knocked on a door to try to get help and then went into the backyard of the home, he said. Residents returning to that home found Cassidy lying on the driveway and called police.
Cassidy was critically injured by a gunshot wound and later was pronounced dead at University Medical Center, Metro Lt. Troy Barrett said Friday. She was identified by the Clark County coroner’s office Saturday.
Loghides was expecting a message he usually receives from her after she arrives at work and instead got one from her mother telling him she was unconscious and being taken to UMC, he said. He had last spoken to her about 30 minutes prior to the shooting.
Solutions Recovery was a good fit for her because “she really enjoyed being there for people,” Loghides said. Cassidy had a strong character but was also a problem solver who “always finds the best ways and finds the best qualities in people.”
Her passion for equality made her an avid supporter of civil rights issues, including those involving the gay and lesbian community. She was someone “who represented fairness on all levels and equality,” Loghides said.
She was “super nerdy” and like all things gaming, anime and technology, Loghides remembers of Cassidy, who he met online over two years ago.
Cassidy was also creative and dwelled her extensive “creativity” into fashion design. She was expecting to graduate from the International Academy of Design & Technology-Las Vegas this year, Loghides said. She wanted to start her own fashion-related business and had recently gotten involved in the cosplay scene where she was trying to expand her brand in costume making.
Loghides didn’t know anything new about his girlfriend’s death.
Police questioned the two female witnesses, Goodwin said.
No arrests were announced and shooter descriptions were not immediately available Saturday afternoon, police said. The shooting remained under investigation.
On Saturday, David Marlon of Solutions Recovery confirmed that Cassidy was employed by the center.
“Cassandra Cassidy was a beloved employee that was looked up to by both her co-workers and those she sought to help. We are devastated by this loss and are working closely with LVMPD to make sense of this horrible crime,” said Marlon in a prepared statement, adding that clients and staff are being offered additional counseling.
This was the 28th homicide investigated in Metro’s jurisdiction in 2015. Anyone with information about the case can call them at 702-828-3521. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555 and www.crimestoppersofnv.com.
Contact Ricardo Torres at rtorres@reviewjournal.com and 702-383-0381. Find him on Twitter: @rickytwrites. Contact Kimber Laux at klaux@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0381. Find her on Twitter: @lauxkimber.
