Funds needed to send slain man home

Though her boyfriend had been struck by two bullets and was gasping for air, Zulma Yessenia-Peña recalled how selfless his last moments were.

"He told the paramedics to help his friend and not to worry about him," Yessenia-Peña said in Spanish, fighting back tears. "I think he knew he was dying."

Her boyfriend of five years, Jose Gilberto Guerrero, 25, was killed after being struck by gunfire in a drive-by shooting May 17 near Decatur Boulevard and Twain Avenue. Two of Guerrero's friends were also shot, but they survived.

At the Samosa Factory Indian Cuisine restaurant, where she works as a dishwasher, Yessenia-Peña on Sunday shared memories of Guerrero's life.

The restaurant's owner, with the help of family and friends, is hoping to raise $7,000 to send Guerrero's body to be buried in his native El Salvador.

"We're just going to keep taking donations through the week to support the family and get the body back to El Salvador," restaurant owner Rick Aco said. He said that as of early Sunday afternoon, they had raised $3,000 for the cause.

Yessenia-Peña said it's important for Guerrero to be buried in El Salvador because most of his family lives there. As she choked up speaking, her 3-year-old daughter, Hazel, whom she had with Guerrero, played quietly alongside of her.

Lt. Lew Roberts of the Metropolitan Police Department said late last week there had not been any arrests made in the drive-by shooting. Yessenia-Peña said Sunday she didn't think any of the assailants had been arrested.

"People are reluctant to come forward and talk to us," Roberts said. "Probably because it's gang-related."

Also late last week, police had not determined a motive for the shooting. They said Guerrero and his friends were not gang members.

Police said Guerrero and a few friends were gathered close to a car in the 3600 block of Kolendo Court when a black Honda Accord or Civic made a U-turn and headed toward them.

A passenger in the vehicle began yelling gang slang, at which point several passengers fired multiple shots, police said.

Roberts said assailants were heard yelling the name of a gang that was unknown to Las Vegas police. The gang might have out-of-state ties, he said.

Police said the Honda has tinted windows and light-colored primer spots on the front fender.

Yessenia-Peña said Guerrero and five of his friends were outside about 10 p.m. when the shooting occurred. Guerrero and his family lived in an apartment on Kolendo.

She said one of Guerrero's friends was shot four times, twice in the back, once in the wrist and once in the arm. A bullet grazed another man's arm. Guerrero was struck in the chest by two bullets, she said.

Yessenia-Peña said Guerrero was a loving man who was kind toward everybody. He was a good father who provided for his family by working as a marble cutter and landscaper, she said. He enjoyed playing soccer and pool.

The couple were planning to marry in December. They had known each other since they were kids; they were neighbors in El Salvador's capital San Salvador, she said.

Although she and Guerrero planned to move back to the Central American country, she said her plans have changed. She said she will stay in Las Vegas with her daughter and honor her promise to Guerrero, one of the last words she uttered to him.

"I'm going to keep moving forward for our daughter," she said.

Services for Guerrero will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Valley Funeral Home, 3919 Raymert Drive, Las Vegas.

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