Woman held in husband’s shooting death released from custody

A woman who was arrested in the shotgun slaying of her husband was released from custody today by a Las Vegas judge.

Justice of the Peace Tony Abbatangelo released Ericka McElroy because Clark County prosecutors had failed to file charges against her.

She is accused of shooting Shane McElroy, 37, in the chest after a domestic dispute Oct. 7.

Deputy District Attorney Pamela Weckerly said afterwards that the case was still being reviewed by prosecutors. She would not comment on whether investigators are considering whether the shooting was in self-defense.

Ericka McElroy, 25, told Las Vegas police that her husband was abusive to her for the decade they were together and that she believed he was going to kill her.

According to her arrest report, her husband showed up drunk about 2:30 a.m. at their home in the 5000 block of Upper Falls Court, near Cactus Avenue and Decatur Boulevard.

He accused his wife of having an affair and threatened to kill the lover. He then grabbed two rifles and put weapons in his vehicle.

The couple argued for about an hour before moving into the garage, where they scuffled over a shotgun, the report stated.

Ericka McElroy got hold of the gun, and the pair went out into the street. She told police her husband tried to grab the weapon and she feared he would kill her. She then fired the fatal shot.

The McElroys' marriage of about four years was already over, according to the police report, and Shane McElroy was moving out when the shooting occurred. The two have an 8-year-old son together.

Ericka McElroy was originally charged by police with murder with a deadly weapon.

A follow-up appearance is scheduled for Nov. 16.

Contact reporter Francis McCabe at fmccabe@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039.