Woman pregnant when killed; alleged gunman was free on bail

A 20-year-old woman was pregnant when she was shot and killed in North Las Vegas earlier this month, authorities confirmed this week.

Norman Renord Smith, who has been charged in the slaying, was free on bail at the time.

Now police are trying to determine whether to pursue additional charges in the death of Tineshea Antovia Adams and her unborn child, according to Aaron Patty, a spokesman for North Las Vegas police.

If the child would have been able to survive a birth, 19-year-old Smith, who is also accused in a series of attacks along the Strip, could face another murder charge.

Clark County Coroner John Fundenberg declined to comment on status of Adams' pregnancy, but said he was in communication with police.

North Las Vegas police found Tineshea Antovia Adams with a gunshot to the chest outside a convenience store at the intersection of Craig Road and Martin Luther King Boulevard on Dec. 13. She later died at University Medical Center.

Police said "multiple people" in a parking lot were involved in a quarrel before Smith fired at least one shot from a handgun. Smith knew the victim, and police originally said the slaying appeared to be domestic-related.

Patty said this week that the two were acquaintances. It was unclear whether Smith was the father of Adams' child.

The killing occurred just two days before Smith appeared in court for a preliminary hearing on 14 counts, including attempted murder, robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, burglary and conspiracy, in connection with the Strip attacks.

He was charged, along with six other people, in a series of attacks on three tourists and one valley resident. Three defendants in the case have cut deals with prosecutors.

The defendants were arrested the same day of the robberies, and Smith was released after posting $160,000 just three days later. His lawyer, Tony Abbatangelo, who had argued for a lower bail, has said Smith had no criminal history prior to the attacks.

Unique Berg testified that Smith, whom she knew only as "Meech," told her of a plan to lure men and rob them. Berg, who was 17 at the time, agreed to testify and prosecutors dropped an attempted murder charge against her. She still faces several other charges as a juvenile.

Berg said she met up with Smith; Orlando Williams, 20; Roxanne Mir, 19; and Courtnee Bernard, 20, sometime on the evening of Sept. 5.

The women would approach men under the guise of needing assistance or propositioning sex, authorities said. The three incidents occurred over a span of about two hours in the early hours of Sept. 6.

Diana Tatarian, 29, and Wanda Turner, 63, each faced five counts, including conspiracy, robbery and assault with a deadly weapon. They were charged only in connection with a robbery that started at Ellis Island Casino, less than a mile east of the Strip. Turner and Tatarian have since pleaded guilty in the case.

Berg also testified about one attempted attack near Treasure Island that was not listed in a detailed police report about the Sept. 6 attacks.

She said the women approached a group of men on the Strip, followed them inside a casino, but after the men became suspicious, they ran away.

After the failed attack, the group carried out three robberies: at a Motel 6 just south of the MGM, near the Tuscany, and inside the Aria parking garage. Authorities said Smith and Bernard fired shots in two of the robberies.

The preliminary hearing for the Strip attacks is scheduled to resume in January. Smith, who is being held without bail, is due back in North Las Vegas Justice Court on the murder charge in February.

Contact David Ferrara at dferrara@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039. Find him on Twitter: @randompoker