Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Police: Man, 86, shot wife in the back, charged with murder

Shooting

Tiffany Gibson

Metro Police investigate a shooting near St. Louis Avenue and Maryland Parkway that left an 80-year-old woman dead in this Sept. 24, 2009, file photo. Police said the woman’s 86-year-old husband shot her, then turned the gun on himself as part of a pact to end the couple’s suffering from health problems. The man survived the shooting but died later that year.

Updated Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009 | 3:28 p.m.

10th Street Shootings

Metro Police investigate the circumstances of shootings that left an 80-year-old woman dead and an 86-year-old man injured Thursday morning in the 1800 block of 10th Street, which is near St. Louis Avenue and Maryland Parkway. Launch slideshow »

Audio Clip

  • Metro Police spokesman Russell Shoemaker on the shootings on 10th Street.

Shooting location

Metro Police arrested an 86-year-old man Thursday who allegedly shot his 80-year-old wife in the back inside their home.

Joseph Woods of Las Vegas was arrested in connection with murder with a deadly weapon and booked in absentia at the Clark County Detention Center, Lt. Lew Roberts said.

Woods is in critical condition at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center after a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his chest, police said. Police said Thursday afternoon that Woods allegedly shot his wife in the back.

Police received a call about 6:49 a.m. Thursday reporting that two people were injured inside the house in the 1800 block of 10th Street. Officers found the woman dead at the scene and a man who had apparently shot himself.

The identity of the 80-year-old woman, who was found in bed next to her husband, hasn't been released, the Clark County Coroner's Office said.

Homicide detectives said a pistol was recovered in the bedroom of the house.

Lori Michaels, a neighbor, said she was stunned to hear what happened. She said the man and woman were cheery and brought newspapers and cookies to her house.

"The man was in a wheelchair and didn't talk much, but they had a nice family," Michaels said.

Michaels said the man and woman had a son who lived in a house in the couple's back yard.

Michaels' boyfriend, Charles Simmons, said he has known the couple for years.

"They were my best friends," Simmons said. "It surprised me because they were beautiful people. They never had any arguments."

Police said one person might have suffered from a terminal illness.

The Clark County Coroner's Office will release the identity and the cause of death of the woman.

Anyone with information is being asked to call Metro's Homicide Section at (702) 828-3521, or to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at (702) 385-5555.

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