Before fatal shooting, paranoid son worried parents were trying to poison him, witness tells police

By Cristina Chang

Thursday, June 28, 2012 | 4:36 p.m.

William Wilson was taking his wife to the airport to see her ill father early Wednesday when they were shot multiple times, according to Metro Police.

The shooting in the driveway of the Wilsons’ east valley home left Kathryn Wilson dead and William Wilson wounded. The couple’s 28-year-old son, Jeffrey, was arrested within hours on counts of murder and attempted murder. He remains without bail in the Clark County Detention Center.

According to the arrest report released Thursday, one witness told police Jeffrey Wilson had been using large amounts of methamphetamine the past few weeks and had grown increasingly irrational. He had become paranoid, including suggesting the belief that his parents were trying to poison him.

William Wilson, who survived the shooting, told police he didn’t see who shot him, but he and Jeffrey Wilson had been in an argument about two hours before the shooting.

Around 4:45 a.m. Wednesday, William and Kathryn Wilson were sitting in their 2004 Lexus in the driveway at 3077 Greendale, when shots were fired into the vehicle. Kathryn Wilson had died from her wounds while William Wilson was wounded but conscious and alert when officers responded. Officers found multiple gunshots had been fired into both sides of the Lexus. Several 40-caliber Smith and Wesson shell casings, as well as a 9mm cartridge, were scattered throughout the driveway.

Police noticed video surveillance equipment had been ripped away from the residence.

A neighbor told officers she had seen a male on the passenger side of the vehicle whose body size and dress resembled Jeffrey Wilson.

By 11 a.m. Wednesday, officers apprehended Jeffrey Wilson at the nearby Arizona Charlie's Boulder Casino Hotel, 4575 Boulder Highway. He was staying there with his girlfriend, and their two children.

Taken in for questioning, Jeffrey Wilson insisted he was at Arizona Charlie's and not at the scene of the crime. After detectives told him neighbors had heard he had a fight with his parents the previous night, Jeffrey Wilson responded that the argument actually had occurred weeks prior. Jeffrey Wilson also said his family problems were "no big deal" and wanted his attorney to be present.

When detectives returned from calling the attorney, Jeffrey Wilson asked if his parents were OK. Told that his mother was dead and his father was wounded, Wilson responded with several profanity-laden sentences and said, "That is unreal, bro."

Jeffrey Wilson’s girlfriend told police about her boyfriend's increasing use of methamphetamine, irrationality and paranoia. She said Jeffrey Wilson had left the hotel several times during the night, the first time around 1 a.m. and the second time shortly after 4 a.m., when he was “going to the store.” He returned at 4:50 a.m. and said his van had broken down. He then asked if he could borrow his girlfriend’s car to go to a storage unit.

A search of Jeffrey Wilson’s van, which was found to be operable, and the storage unit yielded several pieces of evidence, including parts to a broken home-surveillance system, a Glock pistol with five Smith and Wesson 40-caliber cartridges in the magazine.

Wilson is scheduled to appear in court at 7:30 a.m. Friday.