Monday shooting kills one, injures two

A dark Ford pickup truck riddled by bullets marked the scene of a Monday shooting that left one person dead and two others injured on a residential street near Decatur Boulevard and Sahara Avenue.

Las Vegas police spokesman Bill Cassell said the shooting occurred shortly before 12:30 p.m. on the 5000 block of Edna Avenue. Cassell said during an early afternoon press conference that the investigation was ongoing, and that police were not immediately releasing the identities or ages of possible suspects and victims.

Police said one person was found dead at the scene. The other victims were transported to area hospitals.

The truck was parked a block from where police said the shooting happened in the neighborhood of ranch-style homes. Police said they expected to release additional information today.

Late Monday evening, Juan Muñoz identified the young man who was slain as his nephew, 19-year-old Juan Carlos Benitez. Muñoz said in Spanish that the truck belonged to his nephew and that police had confirmed he had died.

As Muñoz stood behind police tape, he said he was searching for answers as to why his nephew was killed.

“I knew him as a good guy,” Muñoz said. “I didn’t know if he had any problems with anybody. All we ask is for police to arrest whoever is responsible.”

Muñoz said he didn’t know who else might have been in the truck.

One young man who didn’t want to give his name for fear of retribution said he went to the crime scene after he saw his friend’s truck on the television news. He didn’t want to name his friend, but said the two have known each other since childhood and that they once attended Clark High School together.

The man said he suspected his friend had been killed and that it was because he didn’t get along with someone he had known for a while.

“All I know is he was driving and that’s where all the bullet holes were,” said the man, who turned 21 Monday.

“What a way to celebrate a birthday,” he said bitterly.

He later sat on a sidewalk behind the police tape and started crying.

Police said two schools were locked down shortly after the shooting — Roundy and Wynn elementary schools. The lockdowns were lifted about 2:15 p.m.

Police blocked off Edna between Decatur and Edmond Street for their investigation.

Anyone with information regarding this 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.