Southern Nevada Water Authority via AP
This photo taken Monday, April 25, 2022, by the Southern Nevada Water Authority shows the top of Lake Mead drinking water Intake No. 1 above the surface level of the Colorado River reservoir behind Hoover Dam.
Published Tuesday, May 3, 2022 | 10:37 a.m.
Updated Tuesday, May 3, 2022 | 11:51 a.m.
Human remains found Sunday in a barrel at Lake Mead are believed to be those of a shooting victim from the 1970s or 1980s, Metro Police said today.
Boaters discovered the barrel about 5:45 p.m. Sunday on part of the lakebed exposed as the result of dropping water levels amid a prolonged drought.
“We believe this is a homicide as a result of a gunshot wound,” Lt. Ray Spencer said today.
Detectives believe the victim was killed in the mid 1970s to early 1980s, based on clothing and shoes found with the remains, police said.
Police said they were trying to identify the victim, and the investigation was ongoing.
The Clark County Coroner’s Office will release the victim’s name when it becomes available, police said.
Anyone with information should contact Metro at 702-828-3521 or by email at [email protected]. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555 or online at crimestoppersofnv.com.
Drought has dropped the water level of Lake Mead on the Colorado River in southern Nevada and northern Arizona so much that Las Vegas' uppermost water intake became visible last week.
Lake Mead and Lake Powell upstream are the largest human-made reservoirs in the U.S., part of a system that provides water to more than 40 million people, tribes, agriculture and industry in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and across the southern border in Mexico.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
