Police have no suspects in slaying
No motive. No suspect. And a $12,000 reward.
That was the status Thursday of the North Las Vegas police's investigation into the death of a Nellis Air Force Base airman and Iraq veteran who was gunned down outside a baby shower Saturday night near Centennial Parkway and Losee Road.
"This was a depraved crime. It was a horrendous thing done against a person who was doing nothing wrong," said Officer Tim Bedwell.
R'Chardrick Markray and another man were on the 6400 block of Starling Mesa Street about 11 p.m. when they were shot by gunmen who fled the area in a gray or silver 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix or Grand Am, police said.
The man with Markray, who was a former airman, was treated for his injuries, police said.
Police suspect two men were involved in the shooting.
Markray was a senior airman who had served with the Nellis-based 763rd Maintenance Squadron since 2003. He had served two 120-day tours in Iraq and a 120-day tour in Afghanistan while in the Air Force.
The Air Force's Office of Special Investigations is helping North Las Vegas police in the investigation.
Authorities did not know why the gunmen killed Markray.
"It wasn't a drive-by where he took a random bullet. At the time he was shot, he was targeted," said Bedwell, who added that police did not know what, if anything, preceded the shooting.
North Las Vegas Police Department Detective Michael Bodnar, who is the lead investigator in the killing, said police had little information from witnesses at the baby shower and hoped the $12,000 reward would inspire someone to come forward.
"We're going to do anything we can to find out who killed him and bring him to justice," Bodnar said.
Meadow Gold Dairies on Thursday offered up to a $10,000 reward for information on the killing, and Crime Stoppers will give $2,000.
Barry Beaman, general manager of Meadow Gold, said the fact that Markray served in some of the world's most dangerous war zones drew him into the case.
"This particular case got our attention because this serviceman was in Iraq and Afghanistan and came home, and the tragedy happened here. We're glad to put this reward up and make an offer to hopefully resolve and bring this case to an end," Beaman said.
Bedwell said cash rewards often do not yield results in investigations. But they help keep the case alive in the mind of the public.
"This is a guy who could have been one of our brothers, our sons, one of our neighbors, one of our church members and one of our friends. He was killed senselessly." Bedwell said. "We hope it touches someone who may know something."
