Cabdriver fatally shot in apparent robbery attempt

By Rich Coleman

Published Friday, March 4, 2011 | 7:33 a.m.

Updated Friday, March 4, 2011 | 6:27 p.m.

A cabdriver was found shot to death Friday morning outside his taxicab in the northeast Las Vegas Valley. Police on Friday evening released photos of two "persons of interest" in the investigation.

Metro Police homicide Lt. Lew Roberts said officers responded at 3:36 a.m. to reports of shots fired in the 6300 block of High Sierra Avenue, near Mt. Hood Street and Carey Avenue. Police found the man dead in the street near the taxi.

Roberts said investigators believe a robbery was the motive in the shooting. Detectives determined the victim might have picked up the group at another location before arriving in the area of High Sierra Avenue.

Witnesses told police they saw four men running from the scene after hearing shots fired. Some witnesses also reported hearing an altercation just before the shooting, Roberts said.

Police said the men were seen leaving the area in a silver Ford Thunderbird or Ford Taurus. Authorities were canvassing the area this morning in their search for the gunmen.

The victim was described as being in his 20s. His name will be released by the Clark County Coroner's Office.

Scott Killebrew, director of security at Frias Transportation Management, said in a statement Friday the company was saddened by the shooting death.

"We are deeply saddened by the loss of one of our drivers. Metro is currently investigating this crime, and we are waiting to hear back from them on further details," Killebrew said. "This comes as a shock to our company and to the entire transportation community. We at ANLV Cab Company, and all of the Frias companies, care deeply about our drivers, and we strive to ensure their safety and the safety of our passengers."

Police released photos Friday evening of a male and female who were in the back seat of the taxi just before the driver was shot. Police are seeking them as "persons of interest" in the investigation. Anyone with information is being asked to call Crime Stoppers at 385-5555 or Metro's Homicide Section at 828-3521.

Imani Simmons, 15, who lives on the block where the shooting occurred, said the three gunshots she heard in the night sounded like fireworks.

“The first one was loud and it woke me up and then I heard another one,” Simmons said. “I thought, ‘Who would be lighting fireworks this late?’”

Simmons has lived in the neighborhood since June 2010 and wasn’t surprised by the police activity she saw on her way to school Friday morning. She said her family’s car was robbed a few months ago.

Jose Gonzales, 16, who also lives in the area, called the neighborhood a “pretty bad area.”

“They’ve been doing a lot of shooting up here,” he said.